megatrash

[18+] [Ophelia x megatrash]

Caleb began orchestrating a text to Jessica as he answered Lola's question: "Gotta make sure no one is wondering where you are." His thumbs worked quickly on her phone until he hit sent. "So hungover, gonna sleep it off all day. If anyone asks, I'm turning my phone off." He read it aloud for her to hear as he shut off the phone and slid it back in his pocket.

Martha approached the table to refill Caleb's coffee and rested a maternal hand on his shoulder. "Anything else I can get you, baby?"

Caleb put a hand atop of hers and smiled up at her. "I'm fine, Martha. Thank you. You coming to Jimmy's funeral tomorrow?"

The woman sighed and nodded. "Yes. We're closing down the diner for a few hours so we can go to the wake and burial. Where's the reception being held?"

"TJ's house. All the girls are over there now cooking. I'll see you then," he said quietly as he pulled a wad of neatly folded cash out of his pocket and counted out. "There's extra in there for that asshole's coffee," he explained as he nudged his head towards where Jack was sitting. "And something for you, too. To help with the money you'll miss out on while the diner's closed." He handed her two hundred dollars in a sly manner and got out of his seat.

"Oh, honey, you've always taken care of this old lady," she cheerily said as she kissed his cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow. Let me know if you need anything."

"Yeah, help Lane forget about me, huh?" he said with a smirk.

The woman shook her head. "That might be difficult. You've always been a ladies' man. Be careful with this one, Lola," she smiled at her and nudged Caleb in the ribs.

"Bye, Martha. Let's go, Lola," he said as he signaled with a hand towards the door.

[18+] [Ophelia x megatrash]

Caleb found Lola's confession pulling at his heart strings, something he shouldn't have allowed to happen. How would he control the situation with her if he began to empathize with her? The situation was getting to complicated, but he had already involved himself by asking.

"He's not gonna kill you," Caleb said frankly as he took a sip of his coffee. "Guys like that don't get far in this town, if you know what I mean."

Caleb stood up, walked over to Jack's table, and sat down to await his return. "Don't cook his order, Martha!" he shouted across the small diner, and Martha nodded in understanding.

When Jack made his way back to the table with a confused expression, Caleb looked up to him with a stone cold demeanor. "You need to go." His voice was strong yet quiet. "You're making my girl quite uncomfortable over there."

When he could tell Jack was about to speak, Caleb put up a hand to silence him. "Get the fuck out. If I see you come within 100 feet of her, I'll do much worse than deny you you're breakfast."

He pushed the seat in and went back to the booth where Lola sat, and he pulled out her phone from his pocket. "What's the name of the friend you were out with last night?"

In Bloom [HangYourSecrets x megatrash] [18+]

Austin gently nudged Jane to wake her when they pulled into the studio parking lot, ruining the build up of a sensual dream that she forgot the details of after only a few moments of being lucid. She stretched a mumbled to herself before directing her attention out of the window to see Rob greeting someone who looked familiar. "Aaron," she remembered. Jane was happy Rob would have someone on the road to talk with - other than Zoe, of course - because based on how awful he looked, he wasn't doing too well.

At that moment, Jane struggled to wrap her mind around why Rob would be feeling shitty after yesterday's conversation. After all, he was the one who had basically told Jane that what she was bringing to the table was too much to handle, and therefore, he just wanted to be physically intimate with her. What did he have to be upset about? Knowing Jane, he would get what he want due her complete inability to be physically alone for too long. And yes, she could probably satisfy most of her desires with someone else, but it was too soon to tell what jagged line had been drawn during their conversation. Plus, the sex she had with Rob was too good for her to find the willpower to turn down.

At least, for now.

Jane waved at Aaron as she walked past them with Austin, but she didn't stop to greet him, mainly because she wanted to avoid Rob at all costs. Her emotions were still, at best, a whirlwind of uncertainty, and dealing with Rob before she would have to record would only hurt her performance.

"Harold," she smiled as she approached the older man.

"Hi, Jane," he replied, giving her a gentle hug. "I really wanted to apologize in person for all of the - "

"Don't sweat it," she interrupted. "I'm over it. We've got a lot more to focus on now, yeah?"

He nodded in relief. "Yes. Speaking of, remember when I asked you if you knew a sound tech?"

"Shit," she mumbled as she squeezed her eyes shut. "Yes, I'll call him tonight. I completely forgot."

"Thanks. I still have a lot of people calling for press coverage. I don't know if you still want to lay low for now or what, but just keep me posted, okay?" He rubbed her arm. "Let's record something."

Jane sighed and nodded before leaving the conversation to go get something to drink. Austin had followed her to grab a beer when he stopped her.

"What's going on?" he asked quietly as his eyes narrowed.

"Um, I don't know. Rob asked to keep the 'physical' side of our...whatever... the same, but take a step back from everything else."

"Jesus," Austin whispered.

"Yeah. So I don't know what the fuck that means or what I'm supposed to do and not to do, but I don't wanna fucking talk to him to figure it out either." Jane felt anger bubbling up as she spoke, so she took a deep breath before continuing. "Anyway, you still down to do something tonight?"

Austin pulled her in and hugged him before he rustled the hair on top of her hair. "Yeah, kid. Let's go get this shit over with, huh?"

*****

Of course, Austin and Jane were set to go last in the studio after the guitar and drums were tracked. In her free time, she had called an old friend Cameron who had gone to school for sound. He was twenty-six now and happily owning his own business that he operated from a home office in Long Beach. It had been a few months since they had spoken, but they had the type of friendship that didn't require much maintenance.

"Jane Molloy," he answered the phone cheerily. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Hey, Cameron," she laughed. "How's business treating you?"

"Good, good. I've got a few employees, which gives me more time to surf and travel. It's been nice. How's the road? I mean, I've seen the articles and shit, but..."

Jane sighed. "Yeah. It's had its ups and downs, and scandalous moments."

They both laughed.

"I can tell," Cameron chuckled. "I'm sorry that happened. The pictures."

"Eh," Jane replied, "enough people have seen me naked already. What's a few more? Anyway, I wanted to ask, do you have any employees willing to come on the road with us in Europe? I was supposed to figure this out a week ago, but shits been so crazy. The pay would be close to nothing, and they'd have to put up with me, but -"

"Oh stop," he interrupted. "You're always a pleasure. I do have an intern. Lyla. She's working for free now, so I'm sure she'd jump at the opportunity. Let me talk to her and I'll get back to you. Cool?"

"Yeah. Thank you so much, Cam."

"Sure thing, Jane. Call me when you come home, okay?" He requested, his voice taking on a different tone.

"Yeah," Jane smirked. "We'll see."

Jane hung up the phone just as Sam approached her.

"Hey, J, you're up," he said with a sympathetic smile.

"Thanks, Sam," she nodded and nudged his arm. She missed hanging out with him and Austin, but it seemed as though the tour had been pulling them in all different directions.

Jane made herself comfortable in the booth, adjusting the microphone and sitting herself on a stool. She really wasn't in the mood, but if the whole band was on board with putting out a new song, she would have to be too.

*****

An hour had gone by, and Jane couldn't get out much that she was satisfied with. As she completed the last run through, she took the large earphones off her head and set them down almost forcefully.

"Keep what you want. Scrap the rest. I'm done for the night," she announced through the microphone frustratedly then exited the booth, making a beeline for Austin.

"Let's get the fuck outta here, yeah?" she whispered with a smile.

Austin nodded, returning the enthusiasm. "I'll call Andy and see when their set is done."

Jane turned to the rest in the studio and waved a hand. "Austin and I are heading out. See you guys later. Harold, I called my friend, he's gonna get back to me tonight. Can you text me the hotel information?"

Harold nodded, not exactly looking too pleased with Jane leaving.

"Bye, guys."

Jane and Austin called a cab and instructed the driver to take them downtown. She was feeling dangerously reckless, the studio time just icing on the cake of the horrible internal struggle she was having. If she could forget about Rob for at least a night, it would be worth whatever she had to do.

[18+] [Ophelia x megatrash]

Caleb's eyes followed the man as he walked past their table and back to the bathrooms, then diverted his attention back to Lola. "Uh, yeah. She's twelve. Well, thirteen next week. She's a smart ass, probably knows way too much about the world already."

Something about how open he was being with the girl across from him was unnerving, especially because she witnessed him commit the ultimate crime. Yet, she was acting like he was a friend, causing suspicion to bubble up in him.

Her nervousness about the man in the restaurant was another concern of his. One thing the mob drilled into its new recruits was respect for women. There was never any harm to be brought to them, unless they were an official member of a rival crew and made the first move. They were told to never hit their women, and no matter what the circumstance, to treat them with kindness. This probably stemmed from the boss' extreme adoration of a beautiful woman in a more sensual manner, but Caleb had always respected the rule. He would never lay his hands on a woman unless it was during a time of intimacy.

This contributed to his hatred for men who treated women like shit. Mentally or physically abusive.

"What did he do, Lola?" he asked in a stern voice. He wasn't sure if he was expecting an answer, seeing how the sight of him had rattled her. "You want me to get him outta here?"

[18+] [Ophelia x megatrash]

Lola's demeanor quickly changed as she stood up and shooed Caleb out of his seat. Startled, he stood up and sat down, watching the skin in her face turn pale, making her freckles seem darker. They were rather striking, causing Caleb to pause a minute before speaking.

"The hell is wrong with you?" he asked as his eyes scanned the diner. Out of any patrons there, one guy looked completely unfamiliar to him. It seemedas though he had just sat down, and he could overhear the man ordering his breakfast.

"What, that guy?" he asked as Caleb nudged his head in his direction. "He's glanced over here a few times. Who is he?"

[18+] [Ophelia x megatrash]

"Eh, unfortunately, I've been with a lot crazier," he admitted as he scratched his face and stared at the menu. "The omelettes are good. I wouldn't fuck with the hash browns if I were you."

A plump older woman came to the table and kissed him on the forehead. "Caleb, my baby! How are you doing?"

"I'm good, Martha, how've you guys been holding up?"

"Ah, we're staying a float," the woman said as she slid her glasses up her nose. "How's your mother and little Erin doing?"

Caleb shook his head. His poor mother had moved his sister around so many times with each boyfriend. If it wasn't for his lifestyle, Caleb would've had his twelve year old sister live with him instead, but for now, it was just too dangerous. "They're moving back down this week. Another break up."

"Oh dear. Well, at least Erin will get to see her big brother, huh? And who's this young lady?"

"That's Jimmy's cousin," he pointed to her. "Lola."

"Well, hi, darling. Wow, she didn't get the ugly gene like Jimmy did huh?"

Both Martha and Caleb began to crack up. "Yeah, much prettier than Jimmy," he said quietly as his eyes met Lola's for a second.

"Well, What can I get you folks?"

Caleb smiled at the woman. "I'll do a black coffee and two scrambled eggs."

The woman nodded and she jotted down his order. "And you, ma'am?"

[18+] [Ophelia x megatrash]

Caleb rolled his eyes as she poked his nose, and the thought crossed his mind that this girl may be more than he can handle. She was bubbly and talkitive. He was quiet and neutral.

"Alright, alright, let's go," he mumbled as he grabbed his key from the kitchen counter to unlock the deadbolt from the inside and eventually unlock his truck. His favorite breakfast place was a small diner a few blocks east of his apartment, one owned by old family friends of his. Although the city was big, he seemed to know someone wherever he went, and as fun as it was when he was younger, it got old.

"Caleb fuckin' Miller," a feminine voice rang out through the diner almost as soon as he opened the door.

"Oh, shit," he whispered as a thin brunette scurried over to her hostess stand. Now his anonymity was shattered.

"You can't call me back after a week, but you bring another girl here?" the girl asked loudly, causing other patrons in the restaurant to turn their head.

Caleb's voice was much quieter than gets. "It's not like that, Lain."

"Oh, it's not, huh?" She rolled her eyes as she penciled in the party of two on the paper in front of her. "You sleep with me, don't call me, and bring another girl where I work?"

"She's Jimmy's cousin. She's in town for the funeral," Caleb replied in a pathetic tone as he wrapped an arm around Lola's shoulder. "Don't you think she's been through enough, Lain? Jesus."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, sweetie," the girl apologized as she looked to Lola. "I didn't know."

"Can we sit now?" Caleb asked.

Lain waved a hand. "Of course, of course," she said as she took them to their booth. Once she sat them, Lain rested her hands on the table and leaned close to Caleb, now speaking much more lowly than before.

"Caleb?" She nearly whispered.

"Yes, Lain," he replied, glancing up to her.

"You better call me soon."

Caleb nodded and looked over to Lola as Lain walked away, and he began to laugh. "Sorry about that, she's a little crazy."

In Bloom [HangYourSecrets x megatrash] [18+]

This was one of the loneliest night’s sleep on tour. One, she had gotten turned on by dancing with Andy, to be frank. Especially after feeling his lips and warm breath on her skin, although it did strike guilt into her. And two, she was used to having Rob’s long, muscular arms wrapped around her every night. No matter how angry she felt at him for what he explain to her, she still longed for him. And that pissed her off even more.

Jane was awoken out of her coma-like sleep by a knock on her door, followed by Rob’s muffled voice. Before even opening her eyes, she groaned loudly. Without even taking time to process his words, Jane swung her legs over the side of the bed and rubbed her face.

Sitting in the van with Rob was the last thing she wanted to do. Imagining how potentially tense things would be made her want to crawl under the bed and let the band go on without her, but she reluctantly tugged a thin, black shirt over her head and slid into jean shorts before dumping everything into her duffle bag and meeting the guys downstairs.

As she climbed into the van, she noticed Rob’s feet on the floor behind the row she decided on, but Jane couldn’t muster up the courage to peer over the seat and look at him. Instead, she worked to make herself comfortable by laying down in an almost fetal position with her hoodie as a pillow.

Her phone vibrated near her stomach, and when she read the text on the screen, she couldn’t hold back a smile.

Andy: I had a really fun time with you last night.

Jane bit her lip for a moment before responding. Was she feeling… butterflies?

Jane: Me too. Thanks for everything.

Another text came through only a minute later.

Andy: It was nice seeing you smile again.

The text Andy had sent made Jane feel a mix of emotions. She was happy be flirting with someone new; it always brought her a sense of excitement. But it also made her feel like she was fulfilling her own prophecy – that she wouldn’t be able to date someone without seeking comfort from someone else. But, thinks with Rob were ‘casual’ now, so did she really need to feel guilty at all? And had she really been that bummed out each time she saw Andy? After really thinking on it, Jane realized he was right. Each time she had seen Andy, there was some new, fucked up piece from the story of Rob and Jane.

Andy was right - perhaps it just wasn’t meant to be.

Jane: Well, you definitely played a big part in that.

Still, it felt so wrong talking to someone else like this.

Andy: Glad I could help.

Jane pursed her lips as she locked the phone and held it near her chest, deep in thought of where this thing would lead with Andy if she let it. He didn’t seem to be the serious type, and he also didn’t seem like he would run away at any sign of conflict, leaving Jane stranded with her thoughts and blaming herself after she tried so hard to satisfy him.

Yes, she was holding in a lot of anger, and usually, she would just let it out to satisfy her own needs, but the situation seemed so fragile. And now, they had to go record a song, then travel to a new set of countries none of them have even heard of.

Jane took out her phone once more to shoot Andy a text back.

Jane: Did your manager confirm for Europe yet?

Andy: We should be hearing back from him tonight. It could go either way.

While it was exciting to know that Andy and Vicarious could be coming along with them, the thoughts of Zoe being around was enough to dampen her enthusiasm. Did Rob run off with her last night just like she had with Andy?

Just hearing Zoe’s name was enough to allow rage to bubble inside of Jane. She had always hated the unspoken cattiness many girls subscribed to, and it was one of the reasons that high school was nearly unbearable, but now she felt like she was in the same boat again. The mean girl in class that is trying to steal her boyfriend.

A new question arose in Jane: Was Zoe playing a part in Rob’s change of heart? Could she have been amplifying her flaws to Rob so that he’d reconsider what they had started?

She realized that was a way to place the blame on someone else, so no matter how much better (yet worse) the thought made her feel, Jane decided not to linger on it. It wouldn’t help anyone to assume things. For now.

Austin popped his head over the seat in front of Jane and pinged her forehead. “You look rough.”

Jane swatted his hand away and smirked. “I went out with Andy last night. It snowed.”

“Ah,” Austin said, understanding the euphemism. “Have left overs?”

Jane stuck her tongue out. “Maybe. Wanna hang out tonight?”

“For sure, dude. I think Kansas might be a little boring.”

Both of them laughed before Austin settled back down into his seat, leaving Jane alone once again. Her pride wasn’t going to let her talk to Rob, at least not yet. She wasn’t ready to hear anything else hurtful from him; she had her share yesterday.

Jane opted for sleeping off the rest of the hangover in the van. “Wake me up when we get there, Aust?”

“You got it,” Austin replied as he waved a hand over the seat.

[18+] [Ophelia x megatrash]

Caleb’s eyes, at first, widened at Lola’s forward comment, but then he scoffed. “Don’t you think it’s a little too soon for Stockholm syndrome?” he asked as he kept his eyes on the screen and took the last sip of the coffee.

Although he’d never admit it aloud, Caleb was used to women flirting with him, and usually, he’d take advantage of it. But, this situation was already way too complicated, and if he entertained her comments, he could only seeing it go downhill.

After mindlessly scratching at his torso, littered with both tattoos and scars, he stood up and brought his mug to the kitchen. “I’m gonna shower. There’s more coffee in the pot if you plan on staying up. Help yourself.”

His head was in such a weird, sensitive place, that if he could, he would opt to stand in the scorching hot shower for the rest of the day and not face the problems he had created. But eventually, after staying in longer than he needed, he shut off the water and wrapped a towel around his lower half.

How was he going to navigate through the day with a hostage, assuming she didn’t bolt any chance she could get? Maybe, just maybe, he should call Smith today and say he wasn’t feeling well and that TJ can take over his responsibilities for the day. Smith would understand, right? Especially after what happened with Jimmy.

He walked from the bathroom to his room deep in thought, closing the door behind him, before dropping his towel and getting dressed in black jeans and a plain white t-shirt. He was starving and didn’t have much in the house to feed himself, let alone Lola.

“Hey,” he said as he approached her on the couch. “If you promise not to run, wanna go grab some breakfast or something?” He asked in a nonchalant manner, but he knew that she didn’t really have a choice. He couldn’t leave her alone and pose that sort of risk on himself and his men. “My treat.”

[18+] [Ophelia x megatrash]

Sometime during the early morning hours, after a nightmare about Jimmy, Caleb found himself tossing and turning, unable to fall back asleep. He squinted his eyes at his alarm clock to read 3:42 AM in red, blinking digits. “Damn it,” he sighed as he swung his feet down to the floor and stood up with groan as he stretched his arms above his head.

Since Jimmy had passed, sleep was rarely longer than two to three hours a night, which was beginning to catch up to Caleb. He usually would’ve never done something so reckless – killing a man with a witness present – and he was beginning to blame it on exhaustion.

In only his jeans, a groggy Caleb plodded down the hallway towards the kitchen when he heard the TV playing in the living room, and after investigating, he realized Lola was still up. “Can’t sleep either, huh?” he asked as he turned on the coffee maker before sticking his face in the fridge. Nothing looked appetizing, so he opted for lighting a cigarette instead as he waited for the coffee to brew.

He poured the black liquid in a large mug and joined Lola on the couch, giving her a few feet of breathing room. He snuffed the cigarette out in the ashtray that sat on the coffee table and picked up his mug. “So, when the young college girl isn’t sneaking into bars or giving hula lessons, what do you do for fun?”

To be honest, he was sure that any information she gave him wouldn’t be exciting, but until he had sorted everything out, he would play nice. For now. He attempted to flash her a polite smile before a yawn took over him. “Shit,” he whispered as he rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes.