Chapter 1 - Meetings and Greetings
"JESSICA" my mom screeched up the stairs, rudely pulling me away from my dreams. "You're going to be late for work, GET UP"
I groaned as I proceeded to emerge from my bedcovers, before heading towards the bathroom. I had a quick shower before heading to my closet to try and choose an outfit for the day. I settled with my white blink-182 shirt and a pair of black skinny jeans, paired with my battered tartan converse. I headed down the creaky stairs, silently cursing to myself about how we need new ones, before grabbing my keys.
"Jessie, wait" my mom yelled, stopping me from heading out of the door. "I made you some breakfast; make sure you eat it okay?" I took the slices of toast before giving my mom a kiss on the cheek and left the house for work.
The car journey was pretty quick and I was at the store, just avoiding being late. I ran behind the counter just in time to serve the first customer heading through the door.
"Hey, Jessie!" Matt yelled across the store at me.
"OH MY GOD. MATT. IT'S BEEN FOREVER!" I screamed as I ran towards him giving him a huge bear hug.
"I know right! Anyway I was wondering if you have the new Bring Me The Horizon album for my brother... is it called Sandpit Turtle or something?"
"Sempiteral you goon" I laughed at him, before taking him towards the back of the store towards the rock albums. "Here ya go!" I smiled before handing him the CD.
"Thanks Jessie!" he called as he headed out of the store, whilst I put the money he'd given me for the disc in the till.
The day past slowly after seeing Matt, we used to go to school together, he was a cool kid, we didn't really talk much but we weren't enemies either. It was nice seeing him again though.
I was just about to close the store, when a tall skunk haired boy, wearing a "nothing but a g thang" shirt and black faded skinny jeans bounded in. Wait. That's Jack Barakat, from All Time Low! I've never been a fangirling type so I didn't flip out when I saw him; I've learnt to control my emotions after going to warped tour, man that was an awesome day...
Jack looked up at me before smiling and walking over the guitars. He began stroking one of the blue gibsons.
"Ahem. Uh. I was just about to close up... but okay." I awkwardly said before removing the keys from the lock and turning the lights back on.
"Oh, sorry. I needed a new guitar, I sort of broke my old one on stage... about 10 minutes ago"
"Well, Jack, you're not going to want on of those, come on back. I'll show you the better quality guitars" I sighed. He followed me, before proceeding to ask me questions.
"How did you know my name? Are you a fan? I love meeting fans. Hey that's a cool guitar. Can I touch it? Wait no. I like that one. I'm talking an awful lot aren't I? Sorry." He babbled.
"I'm not really a fan but I listen to your music every now and then. Your guitar playing is awesome by the way. And there are better guitars back here come on!" I said, watching him stutter and jump about looking at all the guitars, before we finally got to the back of the store where the fenders were stored.
"OOO OOO OOO, I love this one" he excitably said as he held up a black guitar with 2 white strips running diagonally across the body of the guitar. "I'll take this one!" he smiled looking at me with his beautiful brown eyes, not once breaking eye contact with me.
"Awesome! Let me just get some paperwork and I'll box it up for you and you can take it away" I replied, smiling back at him. I headed towards the till counter with the guitar, and Jack following close behind. I grabbed the paperwork made him sign the appropriate points and packaged up his guitar, making sure to include the Jack Skellington strap he'd purchased as well.
Jack started to head out the door, leaving me to tidy up the last few things before turning back and yelling through the door "I never did get your name!"
"It's Jessie" I yelled as he made his way out of the door.
"That's a beautiful name for such a beautiful face" I heard him yell before watching him disappear into the night time cityscape.
I proceeded to lock up the music store and headed towards my car, with a huge smile plastered on my face, probably for the first times in months I was actually properly happy. Due to the special occasion I grabbed my nothing personal disc from the glove box and shoved it into the stereo before shouting along to it, gaining strange looks from people passing by.
I reached my home and I headed straight upstairs without even saying a hello to anyone. As I reached my door, I pulled it open and fell straight on my bed. I grabbed my laptop and headed onto to tumblr to tell my followers about meeting Jack. They were all thrilled for me, which was a surprise as I was expecting them to be jealous. After blogging for hours I decided to head to bed.
I stayed up for hours thinking about Jack's smile and how awkward but fun he was to be around. And wondered what it would be like to spend a day with him. It's a shame I didn't get his number or anything, but you win some you lose some. Maybe I'd see him again... who knows?