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

“And so then he said that he doesn’t do this often. I mean, he said he’d been single since Maddie, but-”
“Who are you talking about?” I asked casually, letting myself into the bus Chloe and a few other merch girls shared. She was gossipping with one of her new friends.
“N-Nobody.” She stuttered.
“Come on, Clo.” I smiled. “Just because I’ve got all these fucked up relationships doesn’t mean yours are. Go for it.”
“Promise not to get mad?” Chloe asked nervously.
“I swear.” I said enthusiastically. Her friend giggled anxiously.
“Okay, me and Alan kind of hung out last night-”
“Alan who?” I asked, oblivious.
“Ashby. . .” Chloe said carefully.
I stopped smiling. “You did what with who?”
“Come on, Ave! He’s really a nice guy.” She pleaded.
I breathed in and out slowly. “Okay. Okay, Chloe. You’re old enough now to make decisions for yourself. That’s cool. How did it go?”
“I always thought he was really cute from far away, right? And then we started talking and he’s a cool guy.” She said.
“If he’s ever an ass to you, you let me know.” I said seriously.
“Why?” Her friend accidentally asked.
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Because he’s afraid of her. Aren’t they all?”
“Also, Clo, when did you and Vic become best buds?” I asked.
“Whenever you decided to scare the hell out of everyone by not coming home.” She shot back, raising her eyebrows. “If you’re allowed to scare Alan, am I allowed to scare Ronnie?”
I laughed. “There is absolutely nothing scary about you. We’re like the sisters from that movie 10 Things I Hate About You. I’m the cold bitch older sister and you’re the sweet, cute little sister.”
**
I was sitting outside near the end of the day smoking when Ronnie walked over to me. “I heard what you said about me.”
Jesus. Was I high yet? I needed to be. “What are you talking about?”
“You and Fuentes. He made me seem like a monster, but you told him he was wrong.” Ron smiled.
“Um. Yeah. That happened.” I blinked. Nope. Not high yet.
“You know what else I heard?” He asked, still smiling. I felt high even though I wasn’t. Things were getting really fucking weird.
“What could that be, Ron?” I asked dryly.
“I heard you told all your little friends about those times I. . . fucked up and that’s why they all hate how close we are.” He said, smile never fading.
I blew smoke directly into his face. “Maybe you shouldn’t have fucked up then.”
He glared at me, clenching his fists. “Maybe you shouldn’t have asked for it.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t hit someone smaller than you.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be such a whiny bitch.”
I laughed. “I think you used that one already. Are you high this time too?”
“I don’t need my fans hearing that, I don’t need Crissy hearing that-”
“Why? ‘Cause you beat the shit out of her too?” I asked coolly. “Tsk tsk, Ron. What will baby Willow think?”
“You’re really testing me right now.” Ronnie said angrily.
I laughed. “Was I testing you that night in Reno? Or that day in New York? No, or maybe the time in Houston-”
Ronnie clearly didn’t care that we were in public, or that there were plenty of people around us, or that he was still on probation and he could go back to jail pretty easily. He wasn’t thinking about any of those things when he swung his fist at my face yet again.
My head swiveled to the right and I fell backwards against the table I’d been standing by, hit my head, and then went forward, face-first into the dirt all in one swift movement. I had no idea what was happening. I just knew that I was going to hit him back harder than he’d ever hit me.
I didn’t have time. Austin Carlile was there. Austin Carlile saw everything.

Notes

cliffhanger. more comments means I'll update faster k xxxx