The Calm
Chapter 30
2 YEARS LATER
-Austin’s POV-
The alarm went off, 5:00AM; today was the first day of Warped Tour. Tonight my band and I would be performing on a stage for an audience for the first time in two years. The anticipating was building up and I was also scared as hell. We were releasing a new album in the middle of this. Everything about my life over the past two years were now in songs.
I got up, showered, and had my bags ready to go by 5:30. I now had to wait for the bus to pick me up at 6. I decided to take a selfie and post it to my Instagram. I’ve barely posted anything and I knew that the fans were excited to see new things, especially from me.
I tried to keep my recovery as private as possible. There were the good days and the bad days, but now I’m better. I feel so ready to start this new chapter in my life.
I laughed at the comments on my recent photo. Some were good and of course some were bad. That is life.
Finally the bus had arrived! I grabbed my bags, locked my house and headed to the bus. Alan came and helped me with my bags.
“DUDE!!!!” Phil yelled.
“Hey!” I said.
“Fucking Tino is asleep already,” Aaron yelled.
“Ughh, hey Alan did your girl back out?” I asked and laughed.
“No she’s on that wonderful bus too.” He said and gave a cheesy smile.
“D’awww look at you Ashby!” I said and he just rolled his eyes.
His girlfriend of the past year, Brook, was a beautiful blonde tattooed girl. They were so happy together. Her and Alan are perfect together.
I stepped onto the bus to see her sitting in the front lounge headphones in and her staring into the air. She realized that we came back on and I waved at her then proceeded to the bunk area.
Off to Vegas we headed for the first show.
I had slept most of the way there and woke up apparently two hours after we had been here. I crawled out of my bunk and headed to the front lounge, but was stopped by Aaron and Tino.
“What guys?” I asked.
“Go to the back lounge.” Aaron said.
“Why? I’m thirsty!” I complained.
“Austin. Damn you. Listen Scarlett is here!” Tino blurted out.
Aaron smacked him, “You idiot!”
“And?” I said.
Now they looked at me like I was crazy, I know I was hospitalized, but Scarlett was a thing of the past. She chose to leave, so I had to respect that.
“Well she’s here…” Tino said and awkwardly walked away.
“Okay…” I said and proceeded up front.
Aaron followed me and Alan and Brook came in from outside.
“Fuck it’s hot out there!” he exclaimed.
“Your face matches your hair.” I said and laughed as he glared at me.
“I said that too, now he’s an angry ginger” Brook said.
“Where the fuck is Phil?” I asked.
“Skyping Anouk…” Tino said and stuck out his tongue in disgust.
“He’s acting like an overprotective parent already and she’s only 4 months pregnant.” Aaron said.
“Well it is Phil...” I said and we all nodded in agreement.
“Pierce the Veil is having a party later…” Alan said then looked at me.
“I’m in” I said.
“Aus, Scarlett is their manager and she’s dating Vic.” Alan said.
“Don’t worry I’m not going to break into pieces” I said and chugged a Monster.
10 minutes before our show we stepped out of our bus because it was just that hot and we wanted as much air condition as possible.
The two-minute warning came.
The crowd chanting my name came.
I ran on stage and felt more alive then ever.
I was home.
“VEGAS WHAT THE FUCK IS UP!” I shouted as we started off with “The Depths”.
The first show in over two years was over and it was perfect. The crowd was loud. I was heading back to the bus to shower since I called it first.
Then I saw her.
I thought I was so over her, but seeing her hit me like a ton of bricks.
I was far enough away but I knew it was her. I saw Vic put an arm around her waist and kiss her forehead. I could tell he truly liked her and she looked happy, which was good.
“Staring from afar?” someone said and I jumped.
“Shit, Jamie you scared me!” I said.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. Just can’t believe it’s her after so long. She looks happy. I’m happy for them.” I said.
“Want details?” he asked.
“Kind of want to know where she went and how she got here. My bus is free…” I said.
“Let’s go then” Jamie said.
We got onto my bus and I locked it, not wanting any of the guys knowing I was wanting this information.
“I shouldn’t want to know but I do.” I told Jamie.
“It’s fine, if I were you I’d want to know too.” He said as we sat down.
“Go on” I said.
“She called Tony up about 6 months later. He yelled at her, but she said she wanted to come back. Tony and Erin ended up picking her up from the airport. Apparently she was getting really broke and decided that enough was enough. She got rid of her laptop and phone after she saw about you and Gielle. When Erin told her what had happened to you, she locked herself away in her apartment for a week. She just felt so guilty. Vic got through to her. We don’t know how but he did. That’s how they got closer; you knew that they were pretty close before. They’ve been together for a year, but didn’t tell anyone. She manages us so that they don’t have to separate. She’s pretty damn good at it too. She’s a different person that what we all knew though Austin. Those six months changed her. She doesn’t talk about them much but there are pictures.” He said as if he was walking on eggshells with me.
“She shouldn’t have felt guilty. How is she different?” I asked.
“She’s outgoing, and just has a vibe that I think is weird, but Vic’s okay with it. She zones out a lot, sometimes we think something happened to her in those 6 months, but Erin told Jessica everything and Jes told me that it was just a life change. We don’t believe them, but hey I guess it’s Scar’s business. Are you coming to our party tonight?” Jamie asked.
“Yeah” I said.
“You’ll see it then. I better get going, see you later man!” he said as he got up and exited the bus.
“See you!” I said before he left.
I needed to shower.
As the water ran down my body I thought of every possibility to how Scarlett could be “different”.
Seeing her just hit a nerve. She’s happy with Vic and I can respect that.
“COME ON AUSTIN! YOU TAKE SO LONG!” Phil yelled.
“SORRY THAT I CAN’T HAVE BEAUTIFUL LUXRIOUS HAIR LIKE YOU!” I shouted back.
Finally we left for the party where I would see Scarlett. Brook and Alan were already sucking each other’s faces off. Aaron had a wife, Phil had a pregnant wife, and Tino and Jen were having a “break”…so it looked like Tino would maybe get hammered with me. It’s been way too long since I’ve got that shitfaced, but tonight was the night though.
The party was already pretty crazy when we arrived. It was on the bus and spilled out around it.
“You getting shit faced?” Tino asked.
“Yeah you?” I asked and he shook his head yes, “I’ll get us drinks” I said.
I walked over to the drink table and grabbed a beer for Tino and I when I bumped into a dark brunette.
“I’m so sorry” I said.
“It’s okay!” she said.
“I’m Austin”
“Lauren” she said.
“Nice, who are you with on this tour?” I asked her.
“A friend of a friend” she said.
“Well it was nice meeting you, hope to see you around. I have to get back to my friend though.” I said.
“Yeah same here” she said and we both walked away.
She was stunning. I went over to Tino and handed him his beer.
“I saw that” he said.
“What?”
“Who was she?” he asked.
“Lauren. She’s really pretty.” I said and sipped my beer.
“I agree. If I were you I’d tap that.” Tino said.
“You really think she’s a one night stand kinda girl?” I asked.
“I heard the end of that, who we talking about now Carlile?” Mike asked.
“Lauren. Go give me the details!” I said in a girly voice and laughed.
“Lauren Calaway. Model. Alysha’s friend. Single. I don’t recommend using her as a one nighter but if she goes with it then that’s your choice.” He said.
“Give Austin a break Mike” Tino said.
“Yeah I haven’t gotten laid in years.” I said and we all laughed.
-Austin’s POV-
The alarm went off, 5:00AM; today was the first day of Warped Tour. Tonight my band and I would be performing on a stage for an audience for the first time in two years. The anticipating was building up and I was also scared as hell. We were releasing a new album in the middle of this. Everything about my life over the past two years were now in songs.
I got up, showered, and had my bags ready to go by 5:30. I now had to wait for the bus to pick me up at 6. I decided to take a selfie and post it to my Instagram. I’ve barely posted anything and I knew that the fans were excited to see new things, especially from me.
I tried to keep my recovery as private as possible. There were the good days and the bad days, but now I’m better. I feel so ready to start this new chapter in my life.
I laughed at the comments on my recent photo. Some were good and of course some were bad. That is life.
Finally the bus had arrived! I grabbed my bags, locked my house and headed to the bus. Alan came and helped me with my bags.
“DUDE!!!!” Phil yelled.
“Hey!” I said.
“Fucking Tino is asleep already,” Aaron yelled.
“Ughh, hey Alan did your girl back out?” I asked and laughed.
“No she’s on that wonderful bus too.” He said and gave a cheesy smile.
“D’awww look at you Ashby!” I said and he just rolled his eyes.
His girlfriend of the past year, Brook, was a beautiful blonde tattooed girl. They were so happy together. Her and Alan are perfect together.
I stepped onto the bus to see her sitting in the front lounge headphones in and her staring into the air. She realized that we came back on and I waved at her then proceeded to the bunk area.
Off to Vegas we headed for the first show.
I had slept most of the way there and woke up apparently two hours after we had been here. I crawled out of my bunk and headed to the front lounge, but was stopped by Aaron and Tino.
“What guys?” I asked.
“Go to the back lounge.” Aaron said.
“Why? I’m thirsty!” I complained.
“Austin. Damn you. Listen Scarlett is here!” Tino blurted out.
Aaron smacked him, “You idiot!”
“And?” I said.
Now they looked at me like I was crazy, I know I was hospitalized, but Scarlett was a thing of the past. She chose to leave, so I had to respect that.
“Well she’s here…” Tino said and awkwardly walked away.
“Okay…” I said and proceeded up front.
Aaron followed me and Alan and Brook came in from outside.
“Fuck it’s hot out there!” he exclaimed.
“Your face matches your hair.” I said and laughed as he glared at me.
“I said that too, now he’s an angry ginger” Brook said.
“Where the fuck is Phil?” I asked.
“Skyping Anouk…” Tino said and stuck out his tongue in disgust.
“He’s acting like an overprotective parent already and she’s only 4 months pregnant.” Aaron said.
“Well it is Phil...” I said and we all nodded in agreement.
“Pierce the Veil is having a party later…” Alan said then looked at me.
“I’m in” I said.
“Aus, Scarlett is their manager and she’s dating Vic.” Alan said.
“Don’t worry I’m not going to break into pieces” I said and chugged a Monster.
10 minutes before our show we stepped out of our bus because it was just that hot and we wanted as much air condition as possible.
The two-minute warning came.
The crowd chanting my name came.
I ran on stage and felt more alive then ever.
I was home.
“VEGAS WHAT THE FUCK IS UP!” I shouted as we started off with “The Depths”.
The first show in over two years was over and it was perfect. The crowd was loud. I was heading back to the bus to shower since I called it first.
Then I saw her.
I thought I was so over her, but seeing her hit me like a ton of bricks.
I was far enough away but I knew it was her. I saw Vic put an arm around her waist and kiss her forehead. I could tell he truly liked her and she looked happy, which was good.
“Staring from afar?” someone said and I jumped.
“Shit, Jamie you scared me!” I said.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. Just can’t believe it’s her after so long. She looks happy. I’m happy for them.” I said.
“Want details?” he asked.
“Kind of want to know where she went and how she got here. My bus is free…” I said.
“Let’s go then” Jamie said.
We got onto my bus and I locked it, not wanting any of the guys knowing I was wanting this information.
“I shouldn’t want to know but I do.” I told Jamie.
“It’s fine, if I were you I’d want to know too.” He said as we sat down.
“Go on” I said.
“She called Tony up about 6 months later. He yelled at her, but she said she wanted to come back. Tony and Erin ended up picking her up from the airport. Apparently she was getting really broke and decided that enough was enough. She got rid of her laptop and phone after she saw about you and Gielle. When Erin told her what had happened to you, she locked herself away in her apartment for a week. She just felt so guilty. Vic got through to her. We don’t know how but he did. That’s how they got closer; you knew that they were pretty close before. They’ve been together for a year, but didn’t tell anyone. She manages us so that they don’t have to separate. She’s pretty damn good at it too. She’s a different person that what we all knew though Austin. Those six months changed her. She doesn’t talk about them much but there are pictures.” He said as if he was walking on eggshells with me.
“She shouldn’t have felt guilty. How is she different?” I asked.
“She’s outgoing, and just has a vibe that I think is weird, but Vic’s okay with it. She zones out a lot, sometimes we think something happened to her in those 6 months, but Erin told Jessica everything and Jes told me that it was just a life change. We don’t believe them, but hey I guess it’s Scar’s business. Are you coming to our party tonight?” Jamie asked.
“Yeah” I said.
“You’ll see it then. I better get going, see you later man!” he said as he got up and exited the bus.
“See you!” I said before he left.
I needed to shower.
As the water ran down my body I thought of every possibility to how Scarlett could be “different”.
Seeing her just hit a nerve. She’s happy with Vic and I can respect that.
“COME ON AUSTIN! YOU TAKE SO LONG!” Phil yelled.
“SORRY THAT I CAN’T HAVE BEAUTIFUL LUXRIOUS HAIR LIKE YOU!” I shouted back.
Finally we left for the party where I would see Scarlett. Brook and Alan were already sucking each other’s faces off. Aaron had a wife, Phil had a pregnant wife, and Tino and Jen were having a “break”…so it looked like Tino would maybe get hammered with me. It’s been way too long since I’ve got that shitfaced, but tonight was the night though.
The party was already pretty crazy when we arrived. It was on the bus and spilled out around it.
“You getting shit faced?” Tino asked.
“Yeah you?” I asked and he shook his head yes, “I’ll get us drinks” I said.
I walked over to the drink table and grabbed a beer for Tino and I when I bumped into a dark brunette.
“I’m so sorry” I said.
“It’s okay!” she said.
“I’m Austin”
“Lauren” she said.
“Nice, who are you with on this tour?” I asked her.
“A friend of a friend” she said.
“Well it was nice meeting you, hope to see you around. I have to get back to my friend though.” I said.
“Yeah same here” she said and we both walked away.
She was stunning. I went over to Tino and handed him his beer.
“I saw that” he said.
“What?”
“Who was she?” he asked.
“Lauren. She’s really pretty.” I said and sipped my beer.
“I agree. If I were you I’d tap that.” Tino said.
“You really think she’s a one night stand kinda girl?” I asked.
“I heard the end of that, who we talking about now Carlile?” Mike asked.
“Lauren. Go give me the details!” I said in a girly voice and laughed.
“Lauren Calaway. Model. Alysha’s friend. Single. I don’t recommend using her as a one nighter but if she goes with it then that’s your choice.” He said.
“Give Austin a break Mike” Tino said.
“Yeah I haven’t gotten laid in years.” I said and we all laughed.
Notes
2 year time jump!
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Ok! Ready for the next!!
12/22/14