Like Loving A Lion (SEQUEL to I'm Not That Perfect)

“Avery. Avery. Avery. Wake up!” Ronnie smacked me with a pillow the next morning.
“Huh?” I sat up, rubbing my eyes.
“Avery, the buses are leaving in half an hour!” He yelled.
“Holy shit. We were supposed to leave here at five this morning.” I said, more aware of what was going on and also my nudity.
Ron smirked. “We were a little distracted.”
“What time is it?”
“Nearly noon.”
We scrambled to look somewhat presentable and leave the hotel room we’d ended up in and get a cab so we wouldn’t be left behind. I called my sister once we were on our way.
“Where the hell are you?” Chloe asked on the second ring.
“On my way. Go to my bus and make sure they don’t leave me, okay?”
“What about me?” Ronnie interjected.
“What the fuck, Avery? You were with Ronnie? Shut up, Vic-”
“You’re with Vic?” I demanded.
There was what sounded like a power struggle for the phone.“It’s almost time to go! What happened to you?” Alex demanded, apparently the winner.
“What the fuck is going on?” I hissed. “Ron, shut up!”
“Sorry! We’re on our way there right now!” Chloe’s voice said.
“We’re?” I asked.
She had already hung up.
**
“Get to your bus before they leave you.” I rolled my eyes once we’d gotten back to where our buses were parked.
“Bye, Avery. I had a good night.” Ronnie taunted me, blowing a kiss as he walked off. I flicked him off and walked onto mine.
“Nice night?” Matt asked sarcastically.
“Probably better than yours.” I replied.
“Hey, you actually made it on time. Good job.” Vic said coolly. I hadn’t even noticed he and Alex sitting at the table.
“What are you guys doing here?” I asked.
“You might want to go change. Ronnie will be wanting his clothes back.” Vic continued.
I wasn’t about to argue. After putting on my own clothes, I returned and sat across from them silently.
“We were pretty worried when you didn’t come back last night.” Alex said.
“But then Jacky said Ronnie didn’t either. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together.” Vic said.
“Yeah, I was with him. What’s your point?” I asked, voice hard.
“He’s been to prison. He was a druggie. He’s got a baby. He’s abused several of his girlfriends. He’s hit you before. Should I keep going?” Vic asked.
“You don’t know him.” I said, very aware that my band was listening in.
“Avery. Austin told us.” Alex said quietly.
“Austin told you what exactly?” Matt butted in.
I glared at Vic and Jaime, praying they wouldn’t tell.
“Apparently Ronnie has actually hit Avery a few times.” Vic said, showing no mercy.
“It was once!” I cried.
Darren, Sebastian and Nate stood up at once. “He fucking didn’t.”
“Thanks. Thanks a lot.” I said. “The only reason I told Austin was because I thought he could keep it in confidence.”
“Why are you with him, Avery?” Vic demanded.
“I’m not with him, you idiot!” I yelled, throwing my hands up in frustration. “He’s my friend! He was the only fucking person who was there for me whenever I thought I lost my mind! Did either of you even fucking call whenever I lost my baby? No! You fucking didn’t! Ronnie has a heart, you assholes! You have no idea how many nights he stayed up with me when I couldn’t sleep, how many times he was there when I wanted to die! He was the only person I had! I’d probably be dead without him, okay?”
“How many times has he hit you?” Vic asked again. Everyone had backed away from us at this point. It was getting dangerous, Vic and I going at it in the middle of my tour bus.
“Fuck you, Vic. Do you really think I’d let him be near me if he was some abusive asshole?” I asked.
“I don’t know anymore!” He cried. “I feel like I don’t even know you!”
“And whose fault is that?” I screamed. “How many times did I try to call you? How many times did Mike and Tony and Jaime not pick up the phone? Alex, Jack, everyone! I tried to keep in touch but no one wanted anything to do with me. I was used to it by that point. Do you know who was there for me when you guys weren’t? Ronnie was. So maybe if you hate how close he and I are, you should think back to all those times you hit ignore when my face popped up on your phone.”
Vic sighed. “Things were different then.”
“Different? Different? Why? Because no one knew what to say? I thought you were my best friend.” My voice became quiet. I stopped yelling. “I felt like I was drowning. I was all alone and none of my friends would pick up the phone. Then one day I got a call from Ronnie Radke, and it turns out he wasn’t as much of an asshole as I thought he was.”
“I’m sorry, Avery. I should have been there. We all should have.” Vic said. “But do you know what you sound like right now? You sound like someone in an abusive relationship trying to justify what he’s doing.”
“You’re impossible. I’m done with this conversation.” I replied, sitting down. It was silent until we got to Mesa, Nevada.
The second the buses parked and setup for the next day began, I charged to Of Mice & Men’s bus. He was sitting with Alan, Aaron, and his bitch in the front room.
“Avery?” Alan asked.
I ignored him. “Asshole. I could kill you right now, you know that? I honestly want to hit you in the neck with an axe.”
“Why is that, Avery?” Austin asked. He honestly had no idea what I was talking about.
“Cut the bullshit! Why did you tell Vic and Alex? Are you retarded?” I demanded. “I got home late this morning-”
“I thought you were supposed to be back early.” Austin said.
“Oh, she was with Ronnie.” Alan blurted, then blushed. “Sorry.”
“Shut up, Alan!” I snapped. “And Vic starts yelling about how I’m in an abusive relationship and I shouldn’t be friends with Ronnie. All because of you!”
“I was trying to help you, Ave.” Austin said calmly. “Ronnie has no right to do that to you. I’m surprised at myself for not saying anything to him, actually.”
“Austin!” Josie snapped. “You can’t fight this guy for her. It sounds like Avery’s doing a good job on her own.”
“As if! You’re lucky I haven’t snapped your twiggy neck myself, Barbie whore. Shut your fucking mouth if you don’t know what you’re talking about, which I’m sure you rarely do.” I said angrily.
“Avery!” Austin cried.
“Fuck you. Fuck you for parading her in front of me, fuck you for running your fat mouth about my personal life. I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire internet has heard that Ronnie Radke put me in the hospital by now!” I yelled.
“He did?” Austin said, standing up.
“No, you great idiot! I was exagerrating! Jesus Christ!” I stormed off, done with everyone.

Notes

:) xxxxx