Old Faces and New Places

When I got home I ran upstairs to my dresser in my room. I pulled open the chestnut draw and ran my fingers down a small frame. I picked it up and examined it as a tear ran down my face. In it was the first picture I took of Alex and I at Kathy's wedding. It was the morning after when he was sleeping and I took a picture of us. It was supposed to be a wedding gift before he did what he did.

I threw the photo at the wall with all of the force in my body. It shattered and thousands of tiny pieces of glass and wood showered the carpeted floor. Leaning up against the wall I sunk low and hugged my knees. This time the crying couldn't be stopped. Some of the paint chipped off of the wall where the photo hit, it would be a constant reminder of the scar Alex left on my life.

Losing balance my body slummed to the floor, I didn't care what happened to me in this moment. I was at my weakest, I had no one to turn to. This tour just reopened an old wound...and it was barely healed to start with. Alex always knew how to push my buttons but this time was just crazy. It's not like he didn't do his research about who was in this band.

Going on this tour would be the equivalent of being shipped off to hell with a pretty red bow plastered on my head. As simple and quick as this tour needed to be it was going to be difficult and long. Staying composed on this tour will have to be the key to me not beating the shit out of that man.

After thirty minutes of hard thinking I pushed myself off the ground and waltzed to the nearest mirror. Expectedly I looked like shit and decided I should change.

"You're pathetic, throwing your career away over one man" I said to the figure standing before me in the mirror. Alex was corroding me inside out. This is probably what he wants, for me to feel needy and pathetic only to come crawling back to him. No I wasn't going to do that.

stripping down I turned on the warm shower water; getting in I let the water wash away all the problems it could allow. It would only get the surface stains but for now that was the best I could do.

Getting out out a ran a towel through my hair and dried my body. I blow dried my hair and applied my signature makeup look. I didn't stop until I liked what I saw in the mirror. After i did all of that I swung open my closet doors and racked my hands threw the many outfits I could choose. I needed something that fit me snugly, it needed to show off my curves.

When I sat to put on my shoes my phone started to ring.

"Hey Jack...long time no talk" the words left my mouth cautiously, I heard him exhale on the other side of the line. You could tell that he was thinking about something.

"I uh just wanted to invite you to a dinner tonight. My band and your band so we could get to know more about each other." He filled me in on the details slowly. He talked to me as if we had just met, it broke my heart.

"Jack I don't think I want to come. You know what went down four years ago and I'm just not comfortable about seeing him again" towards the end my voice faded out as I heard jack mumble some things to himself.

"Please come, I would think no one in your band knows we've had a past because they seemed ecstatic to tour with us, so please don't make this look suspicious." He pleaded, before I could answer he hung up the phone. I tossed my cell across the bed in frustration and stood up. Fine if they want me to go I'm bringing a date.

I rushed over to the one guy popping into my head at the moment, my neighbor Chris. We actually modeled together in various photo shoots. He was also one of our first fans.

Hurriedly, I knocked on his door until I heard the door unlock. Chris opened it, I was greeted with his soft brown eyes and warm caring smile. He ran his hand through his short brown hair as he seemed to stumble to form sentences.

"Uh Ashely hey you look- you look- great" he blushed

"Chris I was wondering if you would accompany me to a dinner with my band and another band...as my date" i lightly tapped his nose, smiling up at him his face lit up as he accepted my offer. We climbed into my car and started off towards the restaurant.

We left my car in the hands of the valet. I linked my arm through his and leaned my body into him. I had an on and off crush on Chris ever since our first job together, I had a feeling he felt the same about me.

Walking in a confused looking Jack waved me and Chris over. Chris pulled out my chair for me and then slid me in before taking a seat besides me. I squeezed his thigh out of reassurance. All my band mates were here, all of all time low was here as well.

"Who's this" Alex plinted at Chris a tinge of anger in his voice.

"Oh this is Chris, he's my date for tonight." I smiled sweetly at Alex as Jack threw me a glare. You could feel the tension building between Alex and I but before it exploded the waiter came over to take our orders.

"So introductions" I rubbed my hands together getting ready to introduce my girls

"this is Kerry out drummer" she smiled and sent a wink towards Rian. He giggled and winked back.

"This is Tina our lead guitar" she sad a shirt hello and turned her attention back to staring at a couple in the corner.

"And this is out bassist Caroline" Caroline completely ignored everyone, she just kept drinking her beer.

"You are?" Zack asked in an innocent voice

"cut the crap" I snapped but before anyone could say anything I exscused myself from the table. Making my way to the bathroom someone grabbed my wrist. I smacked the person who grabbed me square in the jaw.

"Ow Ashley it's me" Alex said craddling his jaw

"wow my hero I'm so releaved" sarcasm filled my tone as I tried to escape him. Confrontation wasn't my strong point and I sure as hell wasn't going to work on it now.

"Could you just stop being so rude, why are you so mad anyway?" He asked, how stupid could this boy be. He sure didn't go to college but somehow majored in stupid.

"Let's see well you cheated in me a week before our wedding! A damn week! Do you understand how much I loved you ! I could have forgiven you for anything but cheating Alex really?!?!" My voice raised, Alex had to eventually shush me so no one would hear but by that time it was too late.

We we heard a squeal from the entry, Kerry stood there.

"You two were engaged?" She looked confused

"it was four years ago and he cheated on me need I say more than once" I raised my eyebrow at him

"once okay I heated once" he admitted and kerry gasped

"oh cut the bullshjt Alex I know for a fact you had cheated on my in Europe!" I screamed

"Yeah you know what Isis! It was great too! She wasn't so needy or so busy with her so called modeling career!" He yelled back. Soon we were in a full on argument. This man tore me down and as soon I rebuilt myself he came back to demolish it. But nope this time I wasn't going to let him.

Kerry intervined, she turned to Alex and kicked him in the balls. He crumbled to his knees and she gave me a smile.

"never hide something this big from me again" she said sternly," and if you don't want to we don't have to do the tour" she said

"no I want to" I straightend out my shirt and walked back to the table with Kerry as we left Alex on the floor.

"Rian go get Alex off the floor, he may not be able to have children anymore" I said sweetly picking at a piece of bread. A look of concern passed Rians face as he and jack bolted out of their seats and ran to their friend.

"Come on Babe lets go back to my place" I whispered to Chris, we said goodbye to the girls and Zack. I'm so glad I went to this dinner.

Notes

Wowowowow second chapter! Please tell me your opinions! I love you guys:)

Ashley's outfit