Peyton
I entered the recording studio for the third day in a row, in hopes of seeing Levi. No such luck. No one had seen nor heard from him. I had promised myself that I wasn't going to call but after the second day and no word, I gave in and texted. No response. I called. No response. I was worried, sick. Visions of my mom drugged out of her mind and passed out on our old, ratty couch played through my mind on a constant loop. Those replays eventually turned into Levi's face. It was he I saw passed out somewhere, with who knows whom, taking advantage of him, or even worse, he could be dead!
"Has anyone been to his condo?" I asked as I sat my laptop on the wooden table in the conference/dining area for the guys.
"Went yesterday, but nobody came to the door. I walked around back and peaked into the garage and saw that his Camaro was gone," Chance said.
"I've called his cell repeatedly, but no luck. I can't believe he hasn't contacted you." Jinx looked at me with disbelief.
"Do you guys think we should call the police? I-Has he ever done anything like this before you know-when he was drinking?"
"He's done it once before, and if that's where he is, we'll never know until he makes it known," Jinx replied. I didn't know why, but I felt as if there was some kind of hidden message there. Something the guys knew that I didn't.
I flipped open my computer and began scanning through social media. There were pictures of Levi standing on his lawn, arms flung wide, as the photographers got their money shots of my broken-hearted man. There were nicer pics, ones of a candlelight vigil, outside the neighborhood gate where Levi lived. There were even well wishes for Levi and the band. I scanned through the usual Facebook and Twitter accounts. Each of the guys were thanking the fans for their condolences and reminding them to come out to support Levi's charity event, this Saturday. Damn! That was only a few days away. What if he didn't surface by then, and if he does, what if he wasn’t in any shape to play? When I came to Levi's page, the only words he'd written were; "Off the grid for a while." That was written early Sunday morning. There had been nothing since.
"Guys," I said, so quiet that I wasn't sure they heard me, but when I looked up from my computer, they were all looking at me. I told them about Levi's last update and they all agreed with me, when I suggested that we quite possibly needed to have a back up to play in his place, come Saturday night. Luckily, Honor agreed to do it. Linc would take back his position as bass player, just as fill in for the event. I thanked my lucky stars for multi-talented musicians.
Peyton
Friday night, Jules and I sat on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn, extra butter, and a tub of Ben and Jerry's Super Fudge Chunk ice cream. Ever since Levi disappeared without a word, all I'd wanted to do was eat ice cream and read my romance novels. Good guys didn't leave you in novels. I thought Levi was everything I'd ever wanted, better than any fictional boyfriend I'd ever had, and way better than B.O.B. ever thought of being, but I was wrong, once again. Real life boyfriends broke your heart when they left.
"This is such bullshit!" Jules said, from her spot on the end of the sofa. "We should just get dressed up and go out. Have a good time." I gave her the evil eye over my spoonful of ice cream. "What? You could wear my red, spandex dress and black heels. I bet you'd be hit on in the parking lot before we ever made it to the door.
"I bet you're right!" I scrunched up my nose. "I bet I'd get arrested for prostitution too, because the guy would probably be an undercover cop!" I said, sarcastically. "I think I'm fine right where I am, but thanks though." I gave her a big, fat, fake smile and she flipped me off.
"Well, at least brush your damn hair!" She had a point. I hadn't brushed it all day. I just couldn't force myself into the studio today either, so I worked from home in a pair of old, ratty sweats, and an old Auburn university t-shirt that had seen better days. A knock sounded at the door, which put an end to our old lady bickering.
"You expecting anyone?" Jules asked. I shook my head no. Anyone making it to our door, either had to be let in by someone who lived here, or they had to have the building code in order to gain access to our floor. I uncrossed my legs, placed my eBook and tub of ice cream on the coffee table, and peaked through the peephole in the door. I gasped and turned to face Jules. Her eyebrows shot all the way up to her hairline and she grabbed her heart as if she were expecting the Grim Reaper. "Who is it?" she whispered.
"It's Levi," I mouthed, since I was standing so close to the door. He knocked again and Jules came to stand beside me, as if I needed back up for what was about to go down. I slowly opened the door and took a step back this time, so that he could come in. "What do you want?" I asked rather harshly.
"I deserved that."
"Yes, you do and more."
"Can we talk?" he asked glancing at Jules, who'd grabbed her bowl of popcorn and had settled in for the show. I sighed heavily and smacked my lips.
"Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Jules."
"Damn straight," she snarled and tossed a couple of pieces of corn into her mouth. I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to Levi.
"Just spit it out. I've got things to do." I glared at him. He looked around the room at my things on the coffee table and then back to my ratty, old sweats. He cleared his throat and spoke.
"Okay, have it your way." He paused and swallowed hard enough that I could hear it. "There's something about me that you don't know. I'm a recovering alcoholic. I've spent some time in rehab in the past, and had it under control until out last album hit the top of the charts. I started to drink a little here and there, and for a while, I could handle it. I thought maybe I wasn't an alcoholic after all, but I was only lying to myself. See, that's what we alcoholics do. We tell ourselves it's all good, until one day it isn't."
He looked down at the worn toes of his boots for several seconds, before bringing his tired, blue eyes back to mine. "I met you, Peyton, and I felt like I was on a constant high. Everything was wonderful. I didn't need the booze to feel high, to calm the pain in my heart. I only needed you. You, Peyton, made my heart beat again, it came to life when I met you in that dark hallway. When my mom died, the voices in my head wouldn't stop. I tried to fight the pain off, but I knew the moment that alcohol hit my throat before my mom's funeral, I was done for.
“It would be one of many drinks to come, and I just couldn't do that to you, not after what you told me about growing up with your mom. I'm not going to lie and tell you that I haven't been drunk since I left you in bed, Saturday night. I didn't tell Jinx where I was going, only that I had to leave, but I think he knew me well enough, to know what I was doing."
He shoved his hands into his front pockets and shuffled his feet back and forth. I could tell it was taking everything in him, just to admit all of this to me, and in front of my best friend. I was really wishing now, that I'd asked her to leave the room. I glanced in her direction, but she was staring down into her bowl of popcorn as if it were the most interesting thing she'd ever seen.