I knew in the back of my head that I’d regret this tomorrow.

I was right.

I woke up alone in Alex’s bed. I looked around. It was covered by a tan and brown plaid bedspread. The walls were plain white and were covered with band posters and other things. I found a note on the bedside table.

BROOKE-

LAST NIGHT WAS FUN, WHORE, BUT THIS WAS A ONE-NIGHT STAND, SO I LEFT YOU.

-ALEXANDER WILLIAM GASKARTH

I crumpled it up and threw it aside, tears springing to my eyes. One night and I was lowered in his opinion. Great. I got up and got dressed. I went out into the living room. Rian, Jack, and Zack were on the wrap-around couch, watching the Ravens game.

“Hey Brooke.” Jack smiled.

“Hey Jacko.” I smiled back weakly. Alex strutted in.

“Hey whore.” He smirked at me.

“Leave her alone.” Zack snapped.

“Stay out of this.” Alex snapped back.

“Okay, just because you’re mad at me, does not give you the right to treat your friends like shit.” I told him. Jack’s eyes widened. I didn’t think any of them had expected me to say that.

"Whatever. So what are we doing today?” Alex asked, as if I hadn’t just gone off on him.

“We have a show then an interview.” Rian replied.

“Details?” Alex asked.

“We go on at twelve at the Recher and the interview is at three with Alternative Press at their Maryland office .” Zack replied.

“Dammit, I have two hours.” Alex huffed and left. Thank God. I sat squished between Rian and Zack.

“Tired?” Zack asked, stroking my hair.

“Immensely. And I’ll have to spend the day picking up after Alex.” I sighed.

“It’ll be okay. He won’t bother you when you’re with us.” Rian answered. I hoped he was right.

We drove to the show in Zack’s car. It was small, so there were only three seats, plus the driver’s seat. Zack drove, Jack took shotgun, and Rian and Alex took the back seats, so I had to sit in someone lap. Guess who that someone was? Alex. I sat down tentatively.

“Calm down, I’m not going to bite you. Jesus.” He said.

I made myself comfortable and he brought his arms around me, folding his hands over my lower stomach.

“Is this okay?” he asked.

I nodded. We drove in silence and I held my breath, waiting for the wave of insults and degradation to crash to me.

“Can you breathe? You’re scaring me.” Alex sighed.

“Aren’t you going to insult me or hit me or something?” I asked.

“Not right now. If we crash and die, I don’t want to be fighting with you in my last moments.” He replied.

“Always the optimist.” I said dryly.

“I try.” He replied.

We finally arrived and Alex tossed me off when no one was looking. So this was how it was going to be. Hmph.

I watched the show from backstage. When they neared the end, the guitar tech handed Alex and Zack acoustic guitars and Jack and Rian left the stage. Alex and Zack started playing and Alex sang a rather sad song. He looked vulnerable throughout the whole thing. Wait, Alex, vulnerable? Nah.

The song ended, he choked a “thank you” to the audience, and ran off. I went after him, as his personal assistant was supposed to do. I knocked on the closed dressing room door.

“Alex!” I yelled.

“I’m changing, so unless you want to watch and mock my small dick, go away!” he yelled back, his voice cracking. I barged in anyway. He’d thrown his flannel shirt on the couch and was shirtless.

“Told you.” He muttered, refusing to look me in the eye.

“Alex, what’s wrong?” I asked.

“Like you care. I pay you, that’s why you’re here. Just leave me alone.” He choked.

“But I’m your personal assistant and this sure looks like something personal that I should assist you with.” I replied. He sighed.

“Do you remember the last song we just played?” he asked. I nodded. “Well, that was about my half-brother. He died when I was twelve” He explained. I gasped.

“How’d he die?” I asked.

“He killed myself when he OD’d in alcohol.” Alex choked. I hugged him.

“Thanks. See this scar?” he whispered, brushing his hair back. I saw a white line that stood out on the side of his tan face. I nodded. “We’d had an argument the last time I saw him alive. He smashed a bottle and one glass shard cut me.” He sighed.

“Wow.” I whispered.

“Yeah. We better get back. They’ll wonder if I killed you.” He smirked. I left him to change and grab his stuff so we could leave.

--

Alex got ready for the interview and we drove there. He made me sit with him and he had his arm around me, which didn't bother anyone, until the interviewer brought it up.

"So Alex, that's a pretty girl you got there." she commented, which was code for "Get off my future husband, bitch!" We all could tell she wanted him since she'd been flirting with him this whole time.

"She's not mine. She's my personal assistant." Alex replied. At least he wasn't ruining me. For now at least.

"Oooh, scandalous!" she squealed and proceeded to try to get Alex to tell her more about our non-existent relationship. It was very unprofessional.

When the whole thing was over, Alex stormed out and to the car. He held me in his lap, but his arms squeezed me around the waist.

"When we get home you're so dead." he whispered darkly in my ear, squeezing me tighter.

We got home and Alex threw me off himself again, this time he kicked me in the back. He pushed me inside and up the stairs.

"You know I can walk, right?" I asked snidely.

"Just helping the process." he replied. We finally walked in his room and I went to sit on the bed.

"No. On the floor." he commanded, motioning to it.

I sat cross-legged on his cold hardwood floor as he kicked off his Nike Dunks and plopped on the bed.

"You wanted to talk to me?" I asked sweetly. He glared at me.

"You made me look bad in that interview. This time tomorrow I'll be a low manwhore who can't keep it in his pants for even looking at you, God forbid putting a friendly arm around you." he snapped.

"It's not my fault! The damn interviewer brought it up! And like I really wanted your scrawny, bony, hairy, nasty arm around me." I retorted.

"Anymore lip and you're fired." he said calmly. I threw my arms up and got off the floor to pace.

"I don't believe you! You act like I fucked you over or something when it was your arm around me! I couldn't just shrug it off and look like a bitch! You're not the only one with a reputation to worry about!" I yelled. He stood up too and got in my face.

"Like anyone really cares about you! You're just a pain in the ass. You make me buy you everything, you leave your feminine products everywhere, and you know how much hate mail we've gotten because of you?" he yelled.

"Well if I'm such a burden, then maybe you should fire me." I shouted.

"Maybe I will." he spat.

"Fine!" I screamed.

"Fine!" he yelled, stomping out and slamming the door. He came back in two seconds later. "This is my room. Get out!" he snapped.

"No." I pouted.

He tried to push me out, but I pushed him back. He gripped me by my upper arms and shoved me against the door, making it slam shut. He put his face close to mine.

"I'm going to kiss you. Resist and you're gone." he hissed, his hot breath blowing on my cheeks.

He pressed his lips to mine. He was not gentle. He used my shirt to tug me over to the bed. He undressed himself and then started on me.

"No. No. Stop." I whispered, but he didn't listen. He had a fierce expression on his face. He got me undressed.

"Stop. No! Stop! Please!" I sobbed, my cries becoming more desperate every time. He gaped and stopped, getting off me.

"I'm sorry. You should get dressed." he sighed.

We turned away from each other and dressed. He sat down on the side of the bed. I walked out. Or tried to.

"Wait. Come lay with me. I swear to God I won't lay a hand on you." he said.

I walked to him and lay down. I ended up in his arms, his chin on my shoulder, sleeping.

Notes

Brooke

Phew. This is actually two chapters chopped up and combined, so enjoy!!!

Go read SociallyAwkwardRocker's stories because she is a lovely lady.

Also, please pray for the people in Newtown, Connecticut. I'm so saddened that any human being can do that to others.

Anyway, enough downer things. Comment, rate, and party!!!