cont. from previous chapter.
Josh's POV
"Nick showed it to me."
"You've got to be fucking kidding me." I said, I felt my face get hot as the anger built inside me. "I've had enough of him." I snapped
"What do you mean?" Jake asked. I remembered he didn't know about the incident at the bar. I quickly caught him up by explaining everything. "Well I can't just fire him, he hasn't done anything wrong..?" Jake said quietly. "So far he has gotten hit, basically blackmailed by you into dropping the complaint, and now all he did was show me a video that really anyone can find on the internet." I turned and glared at Jake, "I'm just saying." he said once again putting his hands up in defense,
"I will figure something out." I said as I rubbed my chin.
"Well I don't know what you are planning but leave me out of it, cause I know that look." Jake said as he motioned me out of the room. Sloan walked past me and back into the room with Jake. I walked back to the kitchen to find Danny still sitting at the table.
"Want to talk about it?" He asked, his head staying toward his book,
"I didn't mean to upset her." I said as I sat down, putting my head in my hands
"Start from the beginning." He said as he closed his book,
"I don't know if I should tell you," I pondered
"You know it will stay between us." He shrugged. And he was right, Danny had never betrayed my trust, and he was the least judgmental person I knew.
"Ok, well we had just got done you know.." I paused and Danny nodded, "And Jake sends me a link saying he thought I should know. So I open the link and its a 'video' of Rhiannon." I said as my eyes got wide,
"What!" I heard Sam yell as he ripped his bunk curtain open. "Sorry, I was just going to eavesdrop but now I have questions." He hopped down and quietly ran over to the table. I rolled my eyes as he sat next to Danny, leaning in to hear.
"Sam you asshat. You better keep your mouth shut." I hissed at him,
"I love Rhiannon, I'd never spread this information, I promise." he said sincerely,
"Ok so Jake found the video, thats awkward.." Danny said,
"No, thats the worst part, Nick sent it to him." I said frustrated, both of the guys eyes got wide as they recalled the past Nick drama.
"The video was of her and Nick? Gross." Sam said making a disgusted face,
"Not exactly, it was of her and some guy.....and girl." I looked waiting for their reactions, Sam's mouth fell open, and Danny just nodded slowly. "Stop thinking about it!" I added in a harsh whisper,
"Nick obviously wanted this to get back to you." Danny said crossing his arms on the table.
"Ok, so how do we get rid of him?" Sam asked leaning closer
"Well, I have to figure out how to get him fired. But the less you two know, the better I think."
"I have no problem there, I'm just here for advice," Danny said
"I'm more worried about getting Rhiannon to speak to me at this point." I sighed. It hurt me to think that she had the idea I thought less of her, which I didn't at all.
"Have you tried texting her?" Sam motioned to my phone
"You didn't see how angry she was, theres no point in trying to talk to her tonight. She's kind of terrifying when shes mad." They both laughed softly, but I wasn't kidding.
"Just talk to her tomorrow at the venue." Danny said as he got up and walked towards the back of the bus, "It sounds like the best option." I nodded.
"So...You still have the video or..." Sam said jokingly, I lunged over the table trying to grab him or hit him, he quickly backed away as he swatted my hands, laughing the whole time. He ran towards the back of the bus, I chased after him but he hid behind Danny,
"Sam, cut it out." He laughed as he rolled his eyes,
"Sam I swear to god, if you don't keep your mouth shut." I said trying to reach him around Danny,
"Seriously, I promise I will, it's just so fun to mess with you." He said as he hopped into his bunk. "But seriously she must have been really good then right?" Danny smacked him on the head, Sam immediately grabbing the spot and pouting, causing me to laugh.
"Josh, go take a shower. Sam, stop being an idiot and go to sleep." Danny said obviously annoyed. I looked around Danny and nodded at Sam, answering his question. He silently did a dramatic golf clap, before sliding his curtain shut as Danny glanced up at him with a scowl. I quickly went into the bathroom and closed the door before Danny could turn his scowl to me. After showering I finally went to bed. The next morning I could barely wait till it was time for us to go to the venue. I hadn't really decided exactly what to say to her, I just needed her to start talking to me again first.
I walked around for a moment before finding where I assumed she was. The door was closed, which was odd as she always left her door open. I knocked on the door lightly,
"Who is it," The sound of her voice instantly calming me,
"It's Josh." I said, I heard the lock move and tried to enter assuming she had unlocked it, but she had done the opposite. "Rhiannon, please just let me talk to you." I waited for a moment but she never answered. "I hope you know I'm not going to give up." I said before walking away. I started walking towards my dressing room, she'd have to bring me my outfit at some point. I frowned as I opened the door to see that there was already an outfit hanging in there. She was really doing everything in her power to avoid me. This meant that she was either really hurt or still really angry. It pained me to think of how upset I'd made her. I knew I still had another issue to take care of, but I needed to wait until after the show. After the show I went and changed, I walked past Rhiannon's workroom so see that it was still closed. I quickly changed before walking back to the common area. I found most of the crew working to get stuff packed. I searched for the person responsible for this whole thing, determined to take care of it. I finally found him working with some wires.
"Hey Nick," I said casually as I approached him.
"Josh." he said side eyeing me. I leaned against an amp and crossed my arms,
"I just have a quick question," He didn't respond but kept working, I spoke in a completely calm tone, "You couldn't have her for real so you just watch old videos of her?" He stopped what he was doing and looked over to me,
"What." He said harshly
"You heard me, you couldn't find the sense in your tiny little brain to just go find someone else? Instead you keep chasing this woman who is absolutely repulsed by you." I said tilting my head, walking closer. I watched as he balled his fists, I knew I was getting to him. "I mean look at you, and I heard from Jen that really no part of you is impressive." And with that last little jab his fist flew into my face. I fell backwards and another stage hand pulled him back as Sam ran over and helped me up. I steadied myself before grinning over to him, blood dripping out of my nose. "You're fucking fired." I said plainly, turning and walking away. I was tired of waiting for Rhiannon to listen, I was going to talk either way.
"Good I don't want to work for you anyways!" He yelled after me,
"Good luck finding a job anywhere else after attacking the lead singer of the band you worked for." I heard Sam laugh. I continued down the hall to Rhiannon's door, it was still shut which meant she was still there thankfully.
"Since your stubborn ass won't let me in I'm just going to yell this through the door!" I shouted. I knew the forwardness would catch her attention. "I didn't mean to say-" Suddenly the door swung open.
"Would you ju- Oh my god what happened?!" She gasped as she pulled me into the room, sitting me on the couch.
"I had to find a way to get that bastard as far away from you as possible." I said looking up trying to get my nose to stop bleeding.
"What?" She said, clearly confused, now holding a wrag under my nose.
"Nick. He was the one who caused all of this to happen, it, it doesn't matter will you just listen to me please." I pulled her hand away so I could talk, "I'm sorry if I made you feel like you were any less of a person to me because of the video. I didn't mean it how it sounded when I asked and I apologize. I was shocked and genuinely just trying to clarify I swear. I wasn't judging you or anything even remotely close to that, I promise. I really, really, REALLY like you Rhiannon and I honestly don't think anything could ever make me feel differently. If I'm being completely honest I think I'm already falling in love with you, and I know that sounds insane, and I don't expect you to say it back but it's true." I blushed as I grabbed her hand, her eyes were locked on mine, I waited in suspense for her to speak.
"I really like you too. I really thought you were disgusted with me.." she said softly, I pulled her into a hug,
"Never." I said as I pulled away and cupped her face in my hands, she looked up at me with sad eyes, it almost physically hurt seeing her upset. "If you want we can just forget the whole thing."
"Well, it's part of my past, and it's never going to go away. So how about we just talk about it instead. I know you probably have questions." She said as she wiped the dripping blood from my nose. I bit my bottom lip as I looked at her, kind of scared to speak any more on the subject. "Come on, just ask. Now that I know you're not judging me I'm fine with whatever you ask."
"So..you like girls too?" I asked, careful to watch my tone, She burst into laughter,
"Yes Josh. thats seriously your first question?" we both laughed,
"Ok, so you did that to get through college, and thats it?" I looked up at her
"Yup. I didn't especially love it, but it wasn't the worst thing." She said looking away and shrugging her shoulders.
"Ok, last question. Can we do that thing..I saw in-" I said grinning at her, she rolled her eyes
"I don't think you could handle it." She smirked back at me,
"Oh I definitely think I could, just be gentle, I'm fragile." I joked back at her, she laughed again.
"Will you please explain this bloody nose to me now?" She asked, wiping away the last few drops as it slowed
"Well, Nick sent the video to Jake who sent it to me." I paused when I saw her face drop, "What?"
"Jake saw it?" she asked
"I assume so," I said as I looked down, she breathed in sharply through her teeth
"Sorry Josh." She said,
"What, what for?"
"That Jake saw me," the fact that she was more worried about me being upset Jake had seen her than she herself being embarrassed shocked me.
"Oh, I'm not worried about it, he's so hopelessly in love with Sloan I have nothing to worry about." I laughed "Anyways Nick sent it and I know it was to spite me and cause problems. I also found it creepy and it really pissed me off in general. I don't need him anywhere near you. So I had to figure out how to get him fired. This seemed like the best option." I motioned to my face.
"Really. Getting punched in the face seemed like the best option. And in your cute little nose no less. At least you changed and didn't get blood on your new jumpsuit."
"I made sure to change first, just for you mama." I smiled over at her, she grinned back shaking her head. "So, what do you say, do you forgive me?" I asked grabbing her hand.
"I forgive you Josh, even though it sounds like there was nothing to forgive. Sorry for shoving you out in the hall in your underwear." She said as she bit her bottom lip, I grinned,
"It's ok, I would like my shoes back though." I laughed,
"You can come get them tonight if you want, I'd love the company." She said as she scooted closer
"That sounds perfect." I said as I leaned in, kissing her.