Limits

Limits; Chapter Three

The next week passed slowly without events. We played the show and got on with the rest of our lives. I hadn’t spoken much to Gee since last night. He probably regretted helping me last night our relationship suffering an immense amount. Tonight we wouldn’t be playing a show instead we would be stopping in NJ for the week. Frank was excited to see Jaimia while the rest of us were merely dragging ourselves along, lost in countless hours of sleep deprivation.

Stepping out of the bus I slung my messenger bag over my shoulder and clicked my phone so it would display the time. I waved to the guys, seeing as though I wouldn’t see them for another week. Frank and I would be going back to his parent’s house while everyone else went wherever they wanted too. I began to think of what Gee might get into while I would be away for the week.

I was worried, but at the same time I was tasting murder with all the images of countless whores he had drug back. He had stopped most recently, but I knew tonight would break the streak. Frank had once explained that men have needs (Which of course I knew) but I hadn’t understood why he couldn’t find a girlfriend and settle down. Gee once said he refused to get in a relationship.

Him saying that of course took a toll on me. I hadn’t liked Gee since the beginning of the tour, I had only started liking him when we began to spend even more time with each other. Before I was just Frank’s friend and the bands photographer, after Gerard passed out in front of the bus Frank started asking me to accompany him during drink escapades. It came in handy sometimes too, if they would be playing a show we could assure everyone that he wouldn’t be showing up wasted.

My mind began to wonder what else Gerard would be doing else tonight. I once recalled seeing a container of full pill bottles. I shook the thought out of my head when we walked into the Rent-A-Car building. The Ways were being picked up by their parents, Ray with a close friend and me with Frankie.

“So, what are you planning on doing this next week?” Frank asked sliding in.
“I don’t know. I’m thinking I might just hang around, make a few mistakes and get my shit back together.” I laughed at my own pathetic joke, as did Frank who started the car.

“Doesn’t this bring back memories? Fucking up in front of our parents and then having to get rented cars. Remember when we crashed your Grand AM?” Frank asked laughing.
“Mom was pissed beyond believe about that.”

I started thinking about all the times I had fucked up in front of parents.

“You’re his hope you know that right?” Frank asked turning down the music.
“Who?”
“Gee.He was a lot worse before, it may seem hard to believe but god damn he was fucked up.”
Frank sighed in emphasis.

I looked down sheepishly. I didn’t believe I was his hope. Of all the people in the world Gee could rely on I wasn’t anywhere on that list. I was on the lowest standard of that list. I shouldn’t argue though, seeing as though Frank is Gerard’s best friend. How could I be his hope when people like Mikey exist?

Shaking off the thought I turned to music back up.

I hadn’t realized I had fallen asleep, Frank’s hand on my shoulder alerting me. I sat up, dragging my bag from the car. We both trudged into the home, feeling sleep pulling at us. His parents greeted us at the door, showing us into the guest room. His mom laughed, helping both of us get settled in.

“We’re all going out to eat around 5, we’ll wake you up then.”

I nodded, pulling my shoes and socks off and crawling into the guest bed I had become so accustomed too. The sheets were still the same, the intoxicatingly familiar scent being enough to lure me to sleep rather quickly. When I woke up at 4:14 PM, I was now fully rested. I snuck silently through the hallways going to Frank’s bedroom. He was still fast asleep, his dog stretched across his back.

I went back to the guest room, pulling my laptop out of my bag. I grabbed my camera out of my purse and plugged it in, logging into the website. I uploaded the photos just as Frank stumbled into my room. He ran his hands through his long hair before sitting down on the bed looking over at my computer.

“Upload them yet?” He asked.
“Yeah, they’re uploaded.” I told him.

I sat up scanning through the pictures I had taken. Frank took out his phone, sending a quick text to Jamia telling her that he had gotten in.

“I didn’t realize how tired I was until my face hit the pillow.” I commented turning around to see the small pile of spit I had left.
“Me either. I was going to lay down for a few minutes but I fell asleep.” He laughed sitting up and stretching.
“God damn remember all the nights we spent watching movies here?” He asked looking back at the stack of movies. His mom had kept each one of the films we had seen together in one spot. I got up, looking at them just as his mother came in.

“I couldn’t bring myself to box them up. I remembered bringing you guess snacks. Get dressed, we’re all going out to eat.”

I nodded to his mother, digging through my bag while Frank stepped away to find clothes for himself. I tried to think of all the times I walked through the door of this bedroom. My Dad passed just before I was born, and my mom was a bitter old hag who didn’t want anything to do with me afterwards. To cope with not being taken care of, I drank daily and spent the night in this very same guest bedroom.

In a way I had once believed it would be Frank and I together, but neither of us could really become more then friends. We liked being best friends, it’s what suited us best.

I stepped out of the room just as Frank exited his own. He smiled brightly at me as we excited the room.

Dinner that night passed by in a blur, spent with tour stories and memories of teenage years. I felt my phone buzz in my shorts, making me excuse myself and pull it out.

“Hello?”
“Yes, is this J.C King?” The man asked.
“Yes, why?”
“This is Kerrang Magazine editor Adam. We saw your work on your website and would like to invite you aboard. Of course we can talk about it more. We can fly you out three weeks from now. We’d love to see more shots by then. Are you in?”

The air got trapped in my lungs, clutching the trash can next to me I breathed a shaky reply.

“Can I have time to think about it?” I asked.
“Of course.”

Notes

Everything is just beginning for J.C! A lot is about to happen between everyone. This is where everything begins. ^.^