Chapter Seven – ‘Vulnerability Makes Enemies Forget Their Differences’

Dear readers, if you are ever asked to enter a prank war with Silas: say no. This was my mistake. I am a confident prankster and enjoy tricking others but Silas’s level of determination is out of this world. While I only prank the intended victim, Silas isn’t averse to pranking all others as well. Indeed the three other members of Locked Doors are shouting for Silas and I to end the war but we are too deep now, it will only end when one of us admits defeat. Though the crew is used to the pranks, this new war is stretching their limits and they are weary of both Silas and I. Even the management of our venue in Edinburgh were unimpressed with out war.

So far I have made Silas look like an ice cream sundae, pranked him as a nurse with serious medical results, hidden all his underwear, hacked his twitter and watched him walk across a fake pathway that had him landing in a pool of cold baked beans.

The pranks I have received involve, being soaked and covered in flour, being locking in the shower, being tricked into eating a local delicacy – which was really mashed potato stuffed inside sausage skins and had my pillow filled with jelly.

I won’t even start on the pranks the others have suffered by Silas’s hand.

The only question I have dear reads is who will cave first?

Lacey was very aware that her writing technique had changed. At first she was very much focused on writing a story that was separated from real life and then she’d moved to incorporate fact and fiction. Now she was writing more like an article and she really like the fact that she was now involving the reader. Writing as an article to the fans was rather more exciting than she thought and was definitely a challenge. The good thing was that Ian loved her new take on the stories, although Lacey wasn’t sure if that was because of her writing skills or the rise in merchandise sales because of her writing skills.

Today they were heading towards Cardiff. Lacey couldn’t wait for the UK side of the tour to finish because she was dying to travel further afield. Having said that she was quite excited to be travelling to Northern Ireland and Ireland itself and hear those delicious Irish accents.

Jenny had been jumping around in excitement so much so that she’d been making the other boys suspicious. Jack told Lacey that Jenny hadn’t been this excited last time they’d been heading to Cardiff as apparently she’d found the whole place rather boring.

“Oh please tell me why you’re so excited before the boys throw you out for your excessive squealing” said Lacey.

“Oh they’re no fun” said Jenny pouting “but I’m excited to arrive in Cardiff because you and I are going to have a night on the town” she added triumphantly.

“You mean dresses, high heels and alcohol” said Lacey grinning.

Jenny nodded.

Contrary to some of the boy’s beliefs, though Lacey loved literature, she also loved letting her hair down. Standing in a sweaty filled club, where the music was loud and the floor was sticky was something she actually enjoyed.

“I’ve decided we’ll go out tonight after the boys concert, we’re only in Cardiff for two nights anyway. Oh and the boys aren’t invited” said Jenny giggling.

“What aren’t we invited to?” asked Silas.

“Tonight’s girl’s night” said Jenny sternly.

Silas groaned “you’re killing me Jenny” he said throwing a wink in her direction.

Jenny rolled her eyes at Silas “leave now before we start talking clothes she ordered.

Silas surrendered with his hands in the air as he retreated from the room, much to the amusement of the girls.

[BREAK]

“What are they talking about that’s making them giggle so much?” asked Jack.

“I don’t think they need a reason to giggle like that, they’re girls after all” said Bradley.

“Why do you care anyhow?” said Ollie sourly.

Jack glared at him “Lacey is my friend and she hasn’t exactly been happy lately. I like seeing her happy” he said.

Ollie scowled.

“Boys I have returned” said Silas loudly.

“What are they talking about?” asked Jack.

“Jenny and Lacey are going out in Cardiff tonight after the concert. Apparently it’s a girl’s night only and we aren’t invited” huffed Silas.

Bradley smirked “I wonder if Lacey can handle her drink”.

“Do you think they’ll be safe together?” asked Jack concerned.

“They’re big girls, they’ll be fine” said Bradley.

“But Lacey’s never been to Cardiff before” added Jack.

“If I didn’t know any better I would say you fancy Lacey” said Ollie.

Jack glared at him “she’s my friend, I don’t fancy her. Perhaps it’s you that fancies her, and all your unkind behaviour is just to hide how you really feel!”

“Alright boys, let’s not start a fight and Jack, don’t worry about Lacey, Jenny’s been to Cardiff before, she’ll keep Lacey safe” said Silas.

Jack nodded, lost in thought.

They soon arrived in Cardiff and the boys headed straight to the venue to begin the sound checks while Jenny had to go off and do her own jobs. So Lacey was left to her own devices. She hadn’t had a chance to think over Oliver’s odd behaviour the night before but now she had she found herself getting quite angry. The jerk had been nothing but rude and unpleasant to her since she arrived. She didn’t know why she thought his display of emotion last night would change anything. She’d been foolish to believe he’d changed his mind about her. He’d been ignoring her since she got up. Where before he would scowl and sneer in her direction, now he wasn’t even doing that now. It was like she was invisible to him and she had half a mind to talk to Ian about it but she didn’t want to face the possible punishment for snitching.

Jenny had given Lacey strict instructions to be ready to leave by the time the boys had finished singing their last song and she didn’t disappoint. Lacey had chosen to wear a black strapless dress that had a tight top and a loose flowing bottom. She wore black heels, a black three quarter length leather jacket, silver accessories and a black and white clutch bag. She’d used make0up to make her eyes smokey, her lashes luscious and her lips pouty.

She was waiting for Jenny as the boys entered the room and stopped from shock and awe when their eyes locked on her form.

“I’d close your mouths boys, wouldn’t want you to catch any flies” she said softly.

“Are you sure you’re the same person?” asked Silas.

“Well unless I’ve been abducted by aliens and been replaced with a clone in the time it’s taken you to do your concert, then yes, I’m the same person” said Lacey.

“Wow” said Silas.

At that point Jenny burst into the room, grabbed Lacey’s hand and shouted to the boys as they left “don’t wait up!!”

[BREAK]

It seemed that Cardiff town centre was actually more exciting than she’d thought and Lacey felt bad for writing the city off as boring. It seemed that Jenny knew of all the best places to go and obviously knew quite a few people here if the exclamations of ‘hey Jenny’ were anything to go by.

Lacey had lost count of how many clubs they’d been too but it seemed that Jenny was finally content with the one they’d arrived at so they hit the dance floor almost immediately. Lacey had had one rule for the evening: ‘no tequila’, because it did bad things to her head and her tummy. At first Jenny had been respectful of this but now Lacey was feeling something in the pit of her tummy that suggested Jenny had forgotten about the no tequila rule.

The club was hot and sweaty and there was a larger ration of men and women. However, Lacey and Jenny did their best to ignore the lustful glances of the men in the club and focused on having fun together. Lacey had now forgotten how much she’d had to drink and wasn’t altogether steady on her feet. Then came the time that the club closed for the night and Lacey found herself standing briefly on the pavement before she was pushed into a taxi by Jenny.

It seemed Jenny had got lucky in the club for she was raving on about it. Lacey’s head had begun to hurt and between desperately wanting Jenny to shut up and the unpleasant feeling she was getting from the taxi journey it was all Lacey could do to stop her tummy content from coming up.

She was hauled out of the taxi without so much as a goodnight as the taxi – with Jenny inside – sped off and Lacey was left with the extreme challenge of getting up the tour bus stairs. She didn’t quite know how she managed to get onto the bus, but she was thankful enough that she had. She tried to be quiet but obviously she wasn’t quite enough.

“You’re back then” said Oliver quietly.

“Hello Oliver” she sang.

“Are you drunk?” he asked.

“I wasn’t but then Jenny forgot about the no tequila rule and then my head got all fuzzy” she paused “did I ever tell you how pretty you are Oliver?” she asked.

“No you didn’t” he replied.

“Well you are pretty but you’re so mean to me. Why are you mean to me? It hurts but I hide the pain. I wish I was good enough for you” she mumbled.

Oliver stared at her intensely.

“I wish you came out with us. There were men everywhere and they wouldn’t leave us alone?" she murmured.

“You didn’t like it?” asked Oliver surprised.

“I wasn’t interested in them” she said.

“You’re too good for them” he whispered almost inaudibly.

She stared at him so intently that he thought she’d heard him.

“Ollie” she said.

“Yes?” he replied in surprise of her using his nickname.

“I think I’m going to be sick!”

He just managed to get her back to the toilet in time and held her hair back while she puked into the toilet. He rubbed her back soothingly and bought her a glass of watcher when she’d finished. Then when she was ready he helped her get into bed.

“Thank you” she whispered “I knew there was good in you somewhere”.

Ollie watched her drift off to sleep and remarked upon how innocent she looked. He’d felt jealous when she’d mentioned the other men at the club and was having a hard time convincing himself that he didn’t like like her.