The Life and Times of Valor

Hector was my past and Austin was my future. I couldn’t dwell on any of it. I didn’t know I could feel anything for anyone again, but the fact that it is possible makes me melt. I was checking out some of the other bands when I walked past We are in the Crowd’s set. I was in the back but I swear Tay spotted me and indiscreetly flipped me off. I didn’t know what her fucking problem was but me and her had literally never gotten along. But I didn’t have time to mess around with petty high school bullshit.
“Oh my god, Valor Vitali?!” A girl with white blonde hair and thick side bangs and heavy eyeliner yelled.
“Hey!” I waved.
“Can we please get a picture?” She squealed.
“Absolutely.” I smiled.
I took a picture with her and then her friend.
“You’re such an inspiration! Thank you so much!” I gave her a swift hug saying thank you back and carried on my way back to the buses.
“Well, well, well, look who it is? The band slut.” I heard a snake hiss.
“Fuck off Ronnie.” I kept walking.
“Come on, do I get a ride next? Austin and Hector already had theirs.” I spat in his face.
“I wouldn’t touch your diseased ass with a thirteen foot pole.” I said walking away.
He grabbed my hair and pulled me back against him.
“Listen here you little slut, I will ruin you if you don’t do exactly as I say” He bit my earlobe.
“Fucking pig.” I snapped.
“I like it when you talk dirty.” He was running his hand over my stomach.
“Let her go you piece of shit!” A british accent yelled out.
“We’ll finish later.” He pushed me into Oli and took off.
“Thank you for that.” I was shaking.
“He just won’t leave you alone will he?” Oli asked.
“I’m not sure why.” I sighed.
“I’m Valor, I don’t think I have been able to introduce myself.” I smiled and stuck my hand out.
“I’m Oli, it’s lovely to meet you.” He shook my hand.
“I’m just saying I’ve loved Bring Me since This is what the Edge of your Seat was made for EP. You guys have gotten me through a lot.” I was excited to meet Oli, they were one of my all time favorite bands.
“Awe, I love to hear that. I’ve checked out your band’s set a few times, it’s amazing.” If I could blush I would’ve.
“Thank you so much.” I was really happy to hear that.
“So what was Ronnie saying to you anyways.” He changed the subject.
“Ugh the pig keeps trying to get into pants. Called me a band slut because me and Austin are kind of a thing now.” I shrugged.
“What an arse. Austin really cares about you, I hope you don’t hurt him.” He was stern.
“Nah, I love the man I think I’ll keep him for awhile.” I joked.
“None of us here are going to let Ronnie touch you, just try not to wonder by yourself okay?” He left me at my bus and I gave him a hug and thanked him again.
My band mates were waiting for me and we headed over to the stage together. Our set was going beautifully and the crowd was huge. A few times noticed people I went to high school with staring at me dumbfounded. I didn’t see Austin standing side stage though, I was only slightly upset. I mean he could have a signing or something to do today. Although he usually let’s me know, I’m not about to track him down every five minutes. But I kind of hoped he’d be there. It was time for our last song, a crowd favorite.
“Alright guys, you’ve been beautiful! We got one more song and we need you to sing along if you know the words, We Can’t Stop!” I yelled and the crowd yelled right back.
The music started and I waited for Jay to come in screaming when I heard a different but very familiar scream. I looked over to see Austin walking out on stage and the crowd was going nuts
“Red cups and sweaty bodies everywhere!” I started smiling at him.
We both kept going when Jenna and Hayley joined me and then Aaron and Alan were also on stage. Then came in Vic and Alex and Jack. The crowd was going insane, absolutely insane.
“If you’re not ready to go home, can I get a hell no!” Jenna sang and we and the crowd all yelled “hell no” with her.
“Cause we’re gonna go all night, till we see the sunlight, alright!” Hayley jumped in.
“So la da di da di, we like to party. Dancing with Pauly.” I sang smiling over at Aaron.
“Doing whatever we want. This is our house. This is our rules!” Alex sang.
Then all together we sang. “And we can’t stop! And we won’t stop! Can’t you see it’s we own the night? Can’t you see it we who bout’ that life.”
Vic started. “We run things, things don’t run we. We don’t take nothing from nobody! Yeahhh yeah!”
Austin screamed. “It’s our party we can do what we want. It’s our party we can say what we want. It’s our party we can love who we want, we can kiss who we want, we can see who want.”
“To my home girls here with the big butts, shaking it like we at the strip club. Remember only God can judge ya, forget the haters cause somebody loves ya.” Aaron belted out as we cracked up at his butt shaking.
“And everyone in line in the bathroom, trying to get a line in the bathroom, Stay away from drugs kids!” Jenna yelled.
“We are so turned up here, getting turned up yeah, yeah!” Hayley sang and the crowd was about to break the guard rail to get to the stage.
“So la da di da di, we like to party, dancing with Ashby.” Alan looked over from his guitar smiling at me as I danced against him.
“Doing whatever we want! This is our house. This is our rules!” Vic cried out.
We all sang the chorus again in unison and finished up the song as the crowd went wild. I closed the set thanking them for such a beautiful experience and walked off stage as tears rolled down my face.
“I fucking love you guys!” I cried.
The all grouped around me and hugged me and told me they loved me too before we disbanded to our different areas. Austin picked me up squeezing me.
“You’re amazing you know that?” He said into my ear.
“Not as amazing as you.” I smiled.
“I have to get over to he stage, see ya there?” He kissed me.
“Absolutely, I have to run to the bus though, I’m gross.” I made a face at him.
“See you soon gorgeous.” He let me down and I ran back to the bus.
I was super out of breath, I just needed to change cause I was all sweaty. I climbed into the bus and I seen a particular person I didn’t care to see.
“The fuck you think you’re doing Radke?” I spat.
“I told you I was going to get my way with you, you slut.” He got up and grabbed my arm.
I pulled my arm back and punched him as hard as I could. His nose was gushing blood.
“You’re gonna pay for that.” That’s when he hit me and everything went black.

Notes

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Title Credit: Of Mice & Men