She gives me a little shove, and I’m instantly prowling around the stage, looking for Jett. My wanting him is never an act, so my eyes are really working overtime through the mask, trying to spot him. This song is his mostmetal adjacentone, and Kennedy is absolutely blasting those drums like he thinks he’s Lars and this is a Metallica show, the bass drum reverberating through the stage floor and up through my bones. I’ll admit the bass gets me into my sexy stalker vibe, and so does the crowd’s screams.
Jett sings the first verse and then makes a big show of seeing me stalking him and acting scared of me. Itry not to giggle inside my mask, but someone so obsessed with me pretending to avoid me is just too cute. Plus, it is kinda fun being the one doing the stalking. Jett is once again shirtless, and his face and neck have blood smeared across them, but there just isn’t enough on his torso for my liking, so Idecide he will soon be covered in it, thanks to me and Kel’s capsules. Iwhip a knife from my thigh holster, and oh, the crowd likes that, as Icontinue stalking Jett around the stage as he sings.
Pretty little nightmare, beautiful disaster. Stop wasting time, just destroy me faster!
Jett takes out his knife, and we play armed cat and mouse until I’m frankly dying to catch him. The boy looks so mouthwatering, all bloody like that, and heneeds more. Ihide behind the cauldron while Jett shields himself with our new drummer. Zombie Dean and Jack try to block me with their guitars as Iduck and weave, trying to catch my prey. I’m stalking towards him, and he turns on his heel, lunging at me, so Ibecome the hunted.
Don’t be shy, you’ve ruined me, Baby. What are you waiting for? Kill me, maybe!
Okay, Iamdefinitelyputting this song in our movie. Jett hurdles his prop through the air, and it flips several times before it grazes my leg. Idrop to the stagefloor and crawl through the fog until Jett catches me by thebad legand drags me downstage as Iattempt to scratch and claw at him. Iwould scream, but no one would be able to hear me anyway; there’sa lotof competition in this arena.
He grabs me by my leather thigh garter and flips me onto my back, pretending to slam his boot down on my abdomen to capture me. Ireach up enough to snag my pointer fingers through his belt loops and tug him down till he’s on top of me. He finishes the song right as he wraps his fingers around my throat, and the crowd ishere for it.
I thought we were ending our scene on the stage floor, but suddenly, he’s lifting meby my throat,and I’ll choke if Idon’t go along with it. He doesn’t let goorlet up, but his other hand has the prop knife in it. Iquickly grab the knife, flip its direction, and drag it across his chest while my other hand smears the blood capsules until the red is oozing down all eight abs, a shiver rippling through me.
Jett rips off my mask, and we did not rehearse any of this. He throws it on the ground and slowly releases the power grip he has on my neck. He takes my hand and raises it between us to thunderous applause – no booing –, and it makes me grin from ear to ear. He raises an eyebrow to the crowd. “The only person who loves my fans more than me is Matilda. Now, are you going to behave?”
Again, no booing, and Irelax a little until Jett drops to his knees before me like he did that first damn night we met. I’m back to shakingeverywhereasJett grabs my hand, steadying me.
“Matilda, eight years ago, when we met, Iknew you just thought Iwanted to get in with your family and never even realised it wasyouIwanted in with. Inside your heart and soul andeverywhere else.They all know Ibelieve in love at first sight,” he says, gesturing to his faithful fans, “since I’ve got at least five songs ‘bout that. I’m sorry it took so long to tell you how Ifelt, but Iwas a twit! Ididn’t think Ideserved you, and it took this long to get to where Ithink Ifinally do. Is this all right, Mum and Dad?”
The audience gasps as Jett pulls a ring box out of his pocket and flicks it open. My heart leaps into my mouth, and Itaste the metallic burn that accompanies it. The cameras zoom in on my parents as they shake their headsand flail their arms around in an objection-like manner to get the audience going.
“I promise.” Jett bats his lashes. “I’ll never film her naked again. Pleeeeeease? I’ll give you grandbabies, Iknow your other kids don’t give a shit about that.”
My parents begin reluctantly nodding, then vigorously, and give him theoh, just go for itgesture. Despite the shock I’m most definitely in, Ilaugh along with a few thousand other people becausedid he seriously rehearse this with them?The mist wafting down from the cauldron is the perfect Maddy-pink shade now and smells just like how Jett tasted the first time we kissed. The band is playing a lovely, soft version ofDriveas Jett takes the ring out of the box.
The cameras are still on my parents, which is so cute because they are tearing up now, but Jett snaps his fingers at the operator like a petulant child. “Hey, zoom the fuck in on this! You’ve heard of a Princess cut, you’ve heard of a pillow cut, what about a fucking coffin cut? What do you think, little ravens?!”
His fans wail, and Idon’t blame them.
“What about you, Mrs. Raven? Do you like it?” Inod like Ijust took amphetamines, and he laughs. “Does it look like something a properauntie’s boywould pick out?”
I shake my head saying, “Hell no!” so hard my wig nearly flies off. The ring doesn’t just take my breath away; it sucks my entire soul out through my mouth as Istand there gaping at it.Itcan only be described as a vintage four-carat diamond in the most pristinecoffin shape,set in a delicate, black gold band. He nears it to my shaking hand, and now we’re both crying.
“Does that mean after today’s fresh hell that you finally trust that being mine doesn’t come with caveats, expiration dates, or hookups with horny drummers in the middle of the fucking night?”
The cameras zoom in on Kennedy, and everyone bursts out laughing as he throws his hands up in anIdidn’t do anything, I’m totally innocentgesture.
“Yes.” Igrin. “I trust you and Ilove you, more than you love Jaffa cakes and Tetley and whiskey combined!”
“And you’ll love me till I’m in one of these?” he asks, hovering the coffin over my ring finger.
“Longer!”
“Good, because Ilove you, Matilda Rose Morningstar, more than you love horror films and pumpkin spice and whiskeycombined,and I’ll never stop. So … will you marry me?”
The pyrotechnics explode on both sides of the stage, sparks showeringfartoo close for comfort. I’m feeling slightly fried, and the false lashes Kel put on me start to melt off, but Idon’t care. I’m giggling and giddy, trying to pull him up to me. “Duh!” According to Mick, this is all Iever wanted, and Ican’t help but admit she’s right.
He slips the megawatt coffin on my finger, then lets me yank him up until his lips are smashing into mine. They taste like crisp apple and victory andforever.He swings me around, and Iaccidentally side-eye ourselves on a big screen. We look like a fuckingmesswith blood smeared all over us as he releases my lips and holds my hand up triumphantly. Everyone is screaming, but just for him, Isay, “Yes, Iwant forever. Please,sir?”
He kisses my forehead. “Then you’ll have forever, my princessalwaysgets what she wants. But Istill have to share you, since you weretheirbaby first.” Iturn to see my entire family climbing onstage to cover us with green zombie kisses and congratulations.
“You all knew, didn’t you?”
Mum grins. “Well, someone had to plan the Halloween-themed engagement party we’re about to head to after this!”
My dad wipes at his eye. “What do you think, Baby? Still the worst day of your life?”
