it's all just a game

[blondeandstrong]

Sitting on the couch in jeans and her favorite KISS t-shirt, Ronnie’s head bobbed along with the music, her bare feet propped on the coffee table. She hummed the lyrics to herself, eyes closed as her hand gripped her phone. Music was her distraction; her getaway. But it was suddenly disrupted when the music came to a halt and was replaced by Kyle’s voice. If looks could kill, Kyle would have dropped dead the second Ronnie’s eyes opened. She stared at him harshly, jaw set. “What the hell are you doing here?” Pulling off the headphones, she set them on the table along with her phone and stood up, crossing her arms over her chest. “I told you I wasn’t going. Now get out before I call security.”

[kyleincharge-blog]

“And if you aren’t dead then you need to get your butt up, get dressed, and go to this party.” The last thing he wanted to do was get into another fight with her but he sure was going to if he had to. “I don’t care where you feel like going or not. Rolling Stone is throwing you a party and sending you on a headlining tour - something you have always dreamed about. So I don’t care if you are pissed at me. You’re going to stop being a brat, get the hell up, and go put a damn smile on your face for the people who are helping make your dreams come true.”

[blondeandstrong]

If Ronnie was mad before, now she was furious. The last thing she wanted to do was see Kyle’s face. So the best thing she could do was not go to the damn party with a frown on her face. But, of course, he had to pull the macho boss card on her and demand her to go, which only made her want to go even less. Instead of getting dressed like he asked, Ronnie took a seat in her very comfortable hotel couch, popped a bottle of vodka and turned up the music to the point she wouldn’t even hear him banging on the door. Yes, she was being childish, but fuck him. He was not barge back into her life after ten years and expect her to nod her head and follow his lead. Those days were over. She would not let herself be played by Kyle Evans anymore. Fuck him and his caveman ways.

[kyleincharge-blog]

Being his former girlfriend’s manager wasn’t exactly the ideal position any guy wanted to be in. Because of their break up, she felt like she had a right to chose not to listen to anything he said. Well that was going to stop - tonight, Kyle had enough. She didn’t have to like him on a personal level but she was sure as hell going to stop treating him like he didn’t have any authority when it came to the band. After dressing for the party, he went to the hotel and head up to her room. He knocked but she didn’t answer. At first he assumed she was ignoring him and he continued knocking. He wondered if maybe she left after their talk but he didn’t want to risk going to the party and not finding her. After pulling some strings and getting access to her key card, Kyle opened the door and stepped inside. “Ronnie?” It only took a minute for him to find her, headphones blaring. He sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose and then walked over to her. This was going to be like giving a bath to a cat. He grabbed the wire to the headphones and plucked them out. “I wasn’t joking, Ronnie. Get up, put your damn shoes on, and let’s go.”

[kyleincharge-blog]

Text » Kyle

Ronnie: Thea can handle it. She is the lead singer. And Milo can tell me all about it tomorrow.

Ronnie: Does it matter?

Kyle: Yes it matters.

Kyle: Look, I know you're pissed that I'm here but you still have a job to do. Not showing up just because you don't want to go through the /torture/ of seeing me again is juvenile.

Kyle: I'll pick you up in one hour. Get ready.

[kyleincharge-blog]

Text » Kyle

Ronnie: I'm not going to tonight's party.

Ronnie: Just so you know.

Ronnie: Tell them I have the flu. Or died.

Kyle: You have to be there. Rolling Stone is hosting it. It's a huge jump off for the tour.

Kyle: Are you really sick?

[kyleincharge-blog]

blondeandstrong:

Ronnie was losing it. She had to be. It was the only explanation as to why all of a sudden, she was developing violent impulses. Stepping closer to Kyle, she pushed him back with both hands before pointing at him with her index finger. “This is not a diva hissy fit and you know it. You show up years later and what? You expect us to clap along and nod our heads? You don’t get to step up and be in charge of a band you quit.” She was barely breathing between words, all the years of pent up speeches and accusations coming out of her month faster than she had imagined. “With your track record, I think we’re better off without you. You’ll probably find something else to walk away for.” Ronnie pushed past him, making her way back to the bus, only turning to him when her foot hit the first step. “Tell the big boss you decided to pursue another option. That’s what you’re good at.”

Half of Kyle knew that he was deserving of this spitfire tongue of anger and vengence while the other half of him didn’t see why she got to be angry with him for following a different career path. “From the way it looks like to me, you got yourself a new front woman and have done just fine for yourself.” He didn’t mind that, not really. He didn’t like the messy situation they were in but he didn’t want to be a rockstar anymore. “I’m not leaving, Ronnie. I’m sorry if that ruins your plans but I’m not going anywhere. This is my tour now and we’re just going to have to work together. Now I can be mature enough to separate personal and professional. Let’s hope you can too.” And because Kyle wanted the last word for selfish reasons, he walked away. He did have a party to get to but he also liked knowing that he got under her skin. 

[kyleincharge-blog]

blondeandstrong:

Ronnie’s foot connected with the side of the bus as she kicked at it, trying to let out some of the anger that was quickly building up within her. At his words, she turned around to face him, eyes shooting daggers in his direction. “Last I checked, this was still my band. I have a say in this too and I don’t want you here. You walked away. You don’t get to be here now.” In all truth, Ronnie never really forgave Kyle for what happened. She just resented him in silence and forgot all about his existence. At least, that’s what she told herself, as well as everyone else. “Why would you even agree to come here? Is it to torture me?”

“Yes well, you as a band have a contract and that contract doesn’t say anything about a diva hissy fit. There’s no reason we can’t work together,” At least that’s what he kept telling himself. “And for the record, not everything is about you, Ronnie.” Lie. “This is a huge opportunity for me and I’m exactly who this band needs as the Queens hit all the major cities before hitting up Europe. I’m the best you’ve got and you’re just going to have to swallow your adolescent attitude and deal with it.” He took a few steps away, tugged his shirt into place, and then looked back at her. “Now why don’t you put on something the stylist picked out for you. You have a party to make an appearance at.”

[kyleincharge-blog]

blondeandstrong:

The announcement struck Ronnie like a lightening bolt. He was what now? He couldn’t be telling the truth… “Hell no.” She was quick to stand up, staring down at the man that had been haunting her dreams for years. He had to be insane if he thought she’d ever agree to something like that. “You’re not staying.” Stumbling through the mess of a bus, Ronnie reached the door within seconds. All of a sudden, it was getting harder to breathe in that confined space, she needed fresh air. And a cellphone. Yes. She’d call…someone. Anyone. He couldn’t stay. She wouldn’t know how to handle that situation without wrapping her hands around his neck at least once a day.

Was he sadistic? Maybe just a little bit. He had thought about this conversation from the moment he heard the band was going on tour. He watched the look on her face, amused with her reaction. “Actually, I am. You see, when you sign a contract, you agree to let the record label pick which personnel work with you and guess what? They want me right here. So you’re free to take your diva attitude to the higher ups and make a big deal about it all you want but that really only makes you look bad.” Kyle shrugged and stood up. “You’re going to have to get used to seeing this face around, Ronnie, because I’m not going anywhere.”

[kyleincharge-blog]

blondeandstrong:

The voice she heard nearly jerked her out of her seat. Ronnie’s head lifted off the couch, eyes wide in an expression that could only be described as shock. Not in a million years would she expect to see him on the bus, sitting with her as if it was the most normal thing in the world. She stared for a moment, the tiredness making her brain slower in processing the moment. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Kyle had to admit that he liked seeing the shock on her face. In some ways, he always liked it when he could surprise her. Of course that was a different life. “It’s good to see you too, Queen.” He leaned back and held his arms behind his head. “I’m checking out the accommodations. I think there may be a few things that i need to alter if we’re going to be on the road as long as I’m about to be.” He watched her, waited a minute, and then grinned. “You’re looking at the Queens’ tour manager.”

[kyleincharge-blog]

blondeandstrong:

Ronnie was lounging on the couch of the tour bus, guitar neatly seated on her lap as her head fell behind. She was exhausted from the previous night’s show and waking up earlier than usual for no good reason. So when someone took a seat next to her–or better yet, nearly on her, she was less than pleased. “What do you want?”

To say that Kyle had been waiting for this moment would be a vast understatement. He’d given up on his opportunity to be a big star and follow the band to the sky and back in hopes of becoming management. Now with the right job and just enough experience, he was able to request the one band he was dying to reconnect with - though dying was a literal term. He asked one of the roadies for Ronnie’s location and was pleased to be directed straight on the bus. He climbed on and immediately found the blonde with her head reclined. He smirked, something he quickly hid as he walked over and sat down beside her. Her response was exactly what he expected it would be. “Well that’s not the welcome I was hoping to hear.”