"I am so embarrassed." I murmur, running around my hotel room with my phone tucked between my cheek and my shoulder. I was juggling my bag with the printed out papers of their designs, doing eight things at once.

"Calm down, it's your first actual day. You're bound to get a little confused." Vanity says back through the phone after I spilled to her all the bad things that have happened since being here.

"Well, let's see Vani. I walked into THE Hobie Brown's, I got in trouble for not being up on time when no one even told me, I got on the wrong bus and I didn't have Hobie's outfit done because I fell asleep and I also was told not to make one." I list, placing my stylus on the bed next to my charged ipad.

"I'm sure it's not as bad as it seems."

"Well now I have to go to their soundcheck to look over their wardrobe and make sure there aren't any stains, tears, I have to do laundry and put them on hangers. I didn't think this job would be so demanding." I race around, knowing someone will be here any moment to collect me and my things.

"What are you wearing?"

"Thank you for listening to my rant and giving me good advice."

"I'm foreal, what are you wearing? You can't be their stylist and go out there looking plain." She repeats this time with urgency.

"I'll have you know, I'm wearing that floral orange and pink top, low waist jeans and my pink heels." I clarify.

"Mm, how is your hair?'

"Are you my mother on the first day of school? I know how to dress." I tease.

"I shoved a sexy outfit in your bag before you left for your new apartment, wear it tonight at their concert." Her chewing suddenly gets louder.

"Vanity, what the hell are you eating?"

"Frozen pears, why?"

I roll my eyes.

"You are driving me mental." I murmur under my breath while continuing to pack my bag.

"Wow... You must really be nervous, huh?"

"I'm very on edge, yes."

"Just relax and enjoy the fact you get to travel with the hottest band of the year, free food and housing, you get two incomes and when you finish you have your showcase afterwards as well." I know she is trying to lighten me up, but I still have months to go before I can even think about my showcase.

I looked at the clock next to my bed, seeing I had only a few minutes.

"Okay I got to go, I'll text you later. Thank you for answering." I say quickly.

"Tell Crass I say hi." She slips in.

"Yeah, yeah, okay." I quickly say before hanging up.

I run and toss my stuff in my duffle bag I'll bring tonight to the show. Once we get to sound check, I won't have the chance to leave until the concert is done; which is roughly the next five hours. Knowing that anything can happen when soundcheck starts to the end of the concert, I refuse to leave any items of the wardrobe left alone.

It was 4:30, I had to leave in a few minutes to get to the concert venue at least by 5:15 for soundcheck to start. I know I wasn't needed a lot beforehand, but Ares wanted me to show everyone their outfits for tonight's show plus the new concept I came up with. Opium was the only one who saw the concept and liked it, but he was just one person out of the band.

I finished packing my pink duffle bag of design papers, sewing kit, deodorant removers, clips, stain remover, duct tape, band-aids, static guard and a steamer just in case.

Tonight I was just in a simple outfit, my hair in two tight little buns that sat directly on top of my head. I applied some light mascara and a thin layer of lip gloss. I wasn't going to glam myself out totally for their soundcheck, but I didn't want to look... plain.

I glanced over at my bag, hearing Eliana in my head telling me to wear whatever it is Vanity packed for me. I felt like I was about to play a game of "what is behind door number one." and I was in for a huge surprise. Maybe I should see what it is? I could always take it with me and change it up before the concert tonight.

"Well.." I mumble to myself, walking over to my emergency bag to look inside of it.

What could go wrong?

My bag was quite big, I couldn't exactly explain how I never noticed the outfit shoved at the bottom of my bag, but then again my mind was everywhere for awhile. I unzipped the second part of my bag with a hesitant look on my face, peering inside to see a thrifted velvet mini skirt with metal hooks around the side and a chain hanging off the left of it. Around the waist already buckled was a simple belt. The top was a black turtleneck and to go over top of that was a lace trim mesh bow-knot black top. For the pants, it was just little tights that were see through with crosses on the sides.

There was a knock at my door, my thoughts coming to a halt.

"(Y/N) you need to be downstairs in four minutes." I heard Ares on the other side.

"Alright!" I shouted through the door.

I quickly laid the outfit out on the bed instead, tossing on a jacket, grabbing my bag and phone. I opened the front door to where Ares was already gone, but I expected that from her. My feet race out the hall towards the elevator of the hotel. I was still processing that I was really here, staying in nice hotels every few days for however long they wanted the tour to last.

I walked down the long empty hallway, hoisting my bag over my shoulder with my face shoved in my phone to text everyone who messaged me earlier today. As I turned the corner I stopped dead in my tracks, coming face to face with Hobie as he had his signature leather jacket on, walking out of his hotel room with his arm draped over a girl with blonde hair, half of it shaved. His black sunglasses were on even though we were very much inside.

I didn't run into him this time, he was about two meters away.

My stomach dropped and twisted when I saw him, a feeling that tends to happen when he's in my presence, or when danger lingers nearby. He glances at me as I stopped in my tracks, his hand still on the door handle of his room he was leaving. I grimaced as the girl peers around him and gives me a quick smile.

I look at her and then him, then back to her in confusion. She looked so much younger than him. He stood tall in his dark appearance, a ripped black t-shirt, his black leather jacket, black combat boots and black sunglasses.

I look into his hooded eyes before I could vividly see him look me up and down, my skin going ice cold as he furrowed his brows at what I was wearing. Before I could even process the insult, he had met my eyes again and walked towards the elevator with the girl now just at his side.

I rolled my eyes, knowing he was already judging me by appearance. What is wrong with what I was wearing? It's not like I look like the half shaved girl on his arm.

Sadly I followed behind the two towards the elevator because I also needed to go in that general direction. What confuses me more about this interaction was Hobie wasn't supposed to be in the same hotel as me, they got their own separate hotel across from us; but then the girl popped into my head and it made sense. Did she work with us? Was she a member of the team I hadn't seen yet?

We were on the fiftieth floor, so we had some awkward time in—

The ding of the elevator door closing had my eyelashes batting in disbelief by the situation. I picked at the skin around my thumbs, glancing up to meet Hobie's eyes as the door shut in my face.

No fucking way.

Pushing on the up button rapidly, I felt a dry chuckle leave my lips as the situation really unfolded. He left me. He left me to be late and I was already in enough trouble as it was, but to purposely get me in trouble was another story. As my rampage in my head started to increase, the doors dinged again and this time it was the girl who was standing in front of him, a smile on her face as she placed a hand on the door.

"Sorry about that, my finger slipped when I went to hit the open button. Come in!" Her smooth voice made me suck in a harsh breath, regretting the thoughts I was thinking about her.

I took the opportunity to finally step inside in case her finger 'accidentally' slipped again, squishing myself against the railing around the walls of the hotel. Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Hobie leaning his head back on the wall with his eyes shut but it was hard to tell with his glasses. This guy always seemed to be in a different mood.

His fingers were covered in rings, the pointer and middle were the only two absent of the jewelry, making them bare to the rest. Seens like an odd place for then to be bare, but who was I to judge.

He moves his head back forward, causing me to look down at my hands again to pretend I wasn't studying him like a book. I picked at the skin around my thumb once more, just waiting for this ride to be over.

The hushed whispers caused my eyes to look through the mirror of the elevator to try and listen.

"What's in your bag?" He suddenly asks, the girl flinching from the sudden question. Turning at a slow pace, I deadpan my expression.

I'm your stylist, what do you think?

"Styling tools." I quickly say, looking back towards the buttons in front of me.

Before the conversation finishes or starts up even more, the ding alerted all three of us that we were at the ground floor and the doors slowly opened. I glanced back to the two, watching him stand completely up straight and pushing himself forward.

"Right." He answers with disinterest in his face, walking out of the elevator with me in the dust. He really doesn't like me being around him.

"There you three are! Gwen, I told you I needed you with the group, not holding up my lead singer and stylist." I hear Ares but don't see her.

Turning my head in all directions, I was trying to find her in the sea of people. To the front left of me she comes weaving through the crowd, stomping to us like usual. Gwen by now was already disappearing into the crowd, leaving us alone.

"Hello." She looks at Hobie with a hand on his chest to stop him from moving, slapping her open palm onto the skin. "Stop being a scumbag and get on the bus." She orders him.

He turned his head to the side to look at me on his right, looking down at me expressionless.

"Make sure she gets on the right bus this fucking time." He scuffles towards me before walking out of the hotel.

I shake my head with my eyes shut, hands out in front of me to do a calming technique I learned in therapy. I looked at Ares who seemed unphased by his choice of words.

"Don't take it personally." She states in the softest tone I ever heard her speak in since I met her in her work mode.

I most definitely feel some type of way.

"Why is he such an ass?"

"We'd all like to know." She shrugs, the clipboard hanging at her side. "Why don't you ask his sister v—pause, go get on the right bus this time actually. It's the one with the staff lingering outside." She emphasizes on the word staff and I nod, trying to find out who his sister was to honestly ask.

When we arrived at the venue, it was massive. This is an arena tour, but I forgot this was a completely different time. When I saw them the first time, it was just at some beaten up warehouse practically that only a select few could get into.

Now we were standing in an arena where 40,000 people were to be seated.

When I got off the bus, I was directed towards a specific area where the stylists needed to be at. A dressing room that was equipped with all I needed and more. My designs were standing on the mannequins as promised, a breath of relief leaving my lips as I walked further inside.

I took one look over my shoulder and saw another door hidden behind the entrance, the sounds of walking and mic checks made it make sense that this was an easier access to and from the stage. Grabbing some of the mannequins, I propped open the door to see Ares already outside ready to knock.

"Perfect, you found your room! Since this is just a soundcheck and not much will happen, I need you to try and adjust some of their wardrobe for tonight's performance." She says while shuffling through her notes, this woman always seemed to have twenty things and more on her mind.

"Will I be able to pull them off to the side to get their final opinions on the outfits?" I arch my brow, the nervousness growing in me with the near thought of just walking towards the stage and bothering them. Even if the arena was empty for another few hours.

"Yeah, it's just a soundcheck. Certain songs I wouldn't recommend asking for their approval since they are important, but I don't mind if you ask. All Spider-band will do is stand there and jump around like children." She tells me in reassurance.

"Okay." I nodded and bit the inside of my cheek, looking out to the stage and seeing them getting all ready.

I watched as they got in their positions to play, moving back to my own little room with my hands moving pieces of their clothing around on the mannequins. I glanced at Hobie from his side profile, his head down at his guitar and tuning it. His guitar pick was placed in between his teeth as he fiddled precisely with the tuning pegs. I could see his lips mumbling what I assumed was the words to whatever song he was thinking of at the moment.

He didn't notice I was staring, but Opium did. A smirk dancing on his lips as he moved over to me as he draped an arm around my shoulders as best as he could. "Hello, my favorite little stylist. I want to be the first one you talk to about my outfits so I can go back about my business." He recalls the conversation he overheard, making me roll my eyes before giggling into my hand as we walk towards his designated mannequin.

While discussing upcoming outfits I had planned for him, picking apart his brain for what he wants to see in certain cities and also for tonight's first show; I didn't realize Opium had the microphone in his hand turned on, facing towards me.

Having no time to celebrate my first successful approval for an outfit, I heard the microphone screech from on the stage and the arena went dead silent.

"Does she have to be here for the bloody soundcheck as well as make so much fucking noise?" He shouts into the mic, making the team halt in their spots. Frantically looking around to find out how he heard us, Opium apologetically stared back at me as he clicked the switch off.

My mouth went bone dry, hands sweating around the fabric of my sleeves since I was gripping my forearms the hardest for closure.

The echoing of the arena went so silent I could hear the needle drop out of my hand and fall in front of me, also the thrashing of my heart against my chest. I looked at him from behind Opium, my legs going numb.

I turned my head back to my wardrobe room, the crew peeking out of the opposite door, their eyes wide and in fear.

"We don't need her until tonight, she is just going to distract everyone; Opium for example." He continued into the mic so everyone heard a level of frustration in his voice as looked over at the two of us. Opium rolled his eyes, squeezing my bicep before turning on his heel to head back to his spot.

"Yes. She needs to be here." Ares says back from the front of the stage on the floor, her arms crossed with a glare on her eyes. The two had a silent battle, not once did they break eye contact or say anything. Rico, Ozzy and Crass turned their back to the two and started to tune and set up their equipment to finish their soundcheck. Was this normal?

Not giving anyone the time to talk to me or console me, I sped off into the room and slammed the door shut. I couldn't handle the humiliation of being stared at any longer for just doing what I was asked. Doing my fucking job. I didn't know if this was worth it at all, if this was all just a test to see how long I could handle being Hobie's punching bag. Why was he suddenly acting like? We were fine not too long ago, this wasn't a two year difference from when I met him, this was recent. What could've happened that caused all of this?

I shouldn't have agreed to do this job, I was stupid to think I could just ignore him and do my job that Karl gave me. It's only the first actual day of touring, I can't keep taking this shit for the next eight or so months.

I put my head in my hands as I leaned against the vanity, tears pricking at the corner of my eyes as I tried to stay as quiet as possible in case anyone walked by. Or worse, Hobie. I wanted to go home, I wanted to lay low and forget my dream of doing this. For her.

Grabbing a paper towel next to me, I dabbed under the corner of my eyes as I squeezed my eyes shut to let the final bit of tears fall down my cheeks. I couldn't let him win. He was being a dick and for why? There was no reason and had no right to be treated me this way. I didn't ask to suddenly be with him for this long period of time. Did I bump into him too many times? Did I make a fool of myself when I dumped that drink on the guy? Who knows anymore.

I took one last breath and turned to stare at myself in the mirror, wiping my cheeks of the dried tears that stained them. I was still shaky, but I had to do this if I wanted to continue my dream.

Biting the inside of my cheek as I walked towards the door, I found myself at the side of the arena stage. My stomach clenched again when I started to see the band from behind, but I fought the nerves and kept walking through like nothing happened whether they just witnessed me get humiliated or not.

The closer I got to the back of the stage to meet with my little team that I already knew I would have in each destination, I was feeling the vibrations of the band starting up again. Eventually the muffled music started to drown out from my ears the farther away I got, that's when I saw Rico watching from the side of the stage that she was at. She wasn't starting yet, still messing around with her guitar.

She took off her guitar, noticing me before I completely turned away to let the other stylists know of what I had planned for Opium and to fetch the last touches.

"Are you okay?" She asked over the band playing.

I nodded.

"I just needed to collect myself." I mumble, giving her my full attention.

"He can be a dick, he's an ass to everyone."

I looked out from behind the curtain that was slightly open that she came from, watching him perform at the front of the stage to another one of their unreleased heavy punk tunes. I look at him and furrow my eyebrows, despising him even more by everything he's said and acted towards me since I got here.

"Huge dick."

"Ares can also be hard headed and not realize Hobie has a bad effect on everyone she brings to the team. You manage to not run away like everyone does." She says while sitting in one of the chairs, lounging with her arms and legs spread out. I felt better by her words, but I didn't need to be babies anymore, even if she meant well.

"I don't want him to win, I know he is your band leader but he needs to be knocked down a few pegs." I confidently say.

She gives me a side smirk, nodding her head in the direction of the mannequin that was for her. "For me?" I nod.

I noticed the microphone around her neck and cleared my throat for it as I came back with the mannequin now in front of her. Giving it to me with no hesitation, I placed it around my neck before putting the mic right by my lips, it wasn't on just yet and I knew that the next move I was going to do was going to royally piss him off. Pressing the mic on, I cleared once and then twice, turning to stare at him as he snapped his head in the direction of where I was.

I knew he could only hear me since this microphone was for the lead singer and the second singer only, to help one another stay on cue with each other's vocals. He shot daggers at me and I shot them back, placing the mannequin in front of me so Rico could be fully aware of what I was doing, and since Rico loves seeing Hobie get riled up, she pretended not to notice Hobie shoot more daggers laced with venom in our direction.

I didn't care that Rico and I strayed away from what we were originally supposed to do, supposed to be talking about her outfit and what she wanted to add to it–if anything she already approved of it before I got the microphone.

I just wanted Hobie to know he can't bully me out of this job, and I won't let him make me feel like the smallest person in the world. I wasn't raised to be a pussy, especially not by someone who thinks because he gets his dick wet every so often by his groupies that he could push me around.

So I'm going to continue to make their stupid outfits and talk as loud as I want.