Chapter 2

Nova

Anxiety Overload

Holy hell this was crazy. Everyone was running in every direction, cutting people off, yelling to their friends, trying to get a set list.

Absolute chaos.

As I looked around I could see all the different bands tents, posted with the time and location where they would be doing there signing. I couldn't help the smile that was forming on my face as I held onto Sarah's hand as we started walking around slowly. She had made a plan out last night since we already had the layout of where everything was, courteous of Ian yet again.

Even though we were trying to stay out of the way, we were still getting pushed from time to time as we walked along the edge of the walkways by running teens who just couldn't be more excited. As more and more people slipped in the gate, the tighter my hold got on Sarah's hand. Once it felt like I'm sure a death grip, she pulled me over to the steps and let me put my back against the wall. She looked at me, worry on her face as she stood between me and the crowd of teens.

"Hey remember to breathe, we talked about this last night. Don't go having a panic attack and pass out on me here!" She yelled over the noise. Behind her I could see the stop smoking van and focused on the music they were playing. The sound of the black eyed peas thumped out of the speakers as I closed my eyes for a moment to take a deep breathe. I could feel her anxious eyes on me, but I didn't focus on her, just the sound of the music as felt my heart coming back down. Fuck, I hadn't even noticed that I was starting to have a panic attack, no wonder Sarah was keeping such a close eye on me. After a moment I opened my eyes and looked at her with a small smile.

"I'm good, thanks. How did you know that I was starting to have a panic attack? I didn't even know." I asked her, really wanting to know. But I was met with a smart ass smirk that could only be warm by her,

"You best-fucking-friend Nova. I told you that I would make sure this was fun. Believe me I'd much rather you have your panic attack now instead of a most pit. At least I know your limit. Now come on, let's go look around and see what they have for merch this year!" She cheered excitedly as she held my hand and we started walking down the row of tents. Both of us spotting Pierce the Veil tent and wanting new shirts. We happily handed over the money, put our new shirts away in our backpacks, and started looking over the stages that were close as we could hear the sound check. I quickly checked my phone to see which band was coming on, smiling as I saw it was one we were wanting to see.

As we moved closer, I saw that the tent for Tonight's Last Fight was just up the line and pointed happily towards it and instantly started to pull Sarah with me. She follows me, hesitant at first till she sees where we are going exactly and instantly started moving faster to keep up with me. The closer we got I saw that they were going to be signing at four thirty today, just before they went on the main stage.

"Hey since we are gonna be here for the after party are we gonna try and see them at the signing?" I asked as we got in line for their new exclusive shirts that were Warped Tour only.

"Don't see why we should honestly. If we wait then we can talk to them more instead of seeming like stalkers and such. Plus they will be more relaxed when they are back at their bus and only a select group is around. Brent says that their anxiety can get bad when they are out here signing and shit." She had a good point. I knew the anxiety all too well. I simply nodded to her as we still waited.

Since the line was already long, we were standing in the flow of the people, we tried to move out of the way and up the best we could, and thankfully the redhead in front of us didn't mind and let us stand with them. We couldn't tell what everyone's deal was, it was like they were being divided like the fucking red sea. I just turned back around to talk to the redhead, Melony, who happened to be at her first Warped Tour too.

This was going good, I was calm, happy, and talking with some really cool people. As we started getting closer people swarmed around us so tight that I was pressed hard against Melony's back and then shoved into the guy in front of us. He turned back around angry, scary angry and shoved us both back without a second thought. I Fell back and tried hard to get my footing but I was knocked back into some, who I bounced off of and tripped over my own feet and waited for myself to hit the ground. Only I didn't, I was met when two arms came around my waist.

Fuck.

I slowly looked up and was blinded by the sun for a second as the person helped me get my footing, but before I could say thank you I was jerked away but a man that had to be at least 6'3 and 250 pounds.

"Stay back kid!" he yelled as he pushed be back, again into another person. Was I a fucking rag doll today? Must have been shoved into a band member or a celebrity.

"What the fuck Greg calm your shit she was shoved." The deep voice boomed in the face of the man who just shoved me back. I looked up, trying to see who exactly was yelling at him, hoping that a fight wasn't about to happen.

"I'm just doing my job sir," he said defending himself.

"Making sure that I'm okay doesn't include fucking shoving around girls half my own size!" the deep voice shouted back. Finally I saw just exactly who I was knocked into, and I was right, someone famous.

"Are you okay?" he asked as he moved over to me, deep blue eyes locked on me. I slowly nodded, trying to keep myself from saying something stupid or making a fool of myself, that was the last thing that I needed right now. He got even closer, fuck he was tall. As he stood in front of me I had to look almost directly up, it sucks being only 5'4.

He just stared at me, my eyes locked on his. The pictures I saw of him did him no justice at all. He had the perfect jaw line, wide shoulders, and had to be 6'1 at a minimum, his black boots just added even more to his height. Seeing him in person, standing here with him was something that I never expected to happen, but I was quickly brought back to reality when he finally looked away as Brent called his name from their tent. He nodded to him and looked back at me, giving me the once over one more time before he took my hand and started leading me to their tent, past all the other people waiting in line and the fans trying to get his attention.

I glanced back at Sarah quickly, the look on my face must have been pure shock as she looked at me gaping, trying to find something to say as I was pulled up and into the tent behind all the tables. I looked back at him as he pulled out a beer from the cooler and handed one to Brent as he glanced at me.

"You want a beer?" he asked casually, and I nodded. I needed something to take the edge off of the nerves that were going crazy in my stomach. He handed me a cold can of beer that I quickly opened and took a long drink of before I took a deep breathe. Brent smiled over at me a little surprised,

"Hey what brings you to the tent? Thought that you and Sarah would wait till afterwards to chill with us." He said as he came over and gave me a hug. He always had been a friendly guy.

"I was waiting to get one of your exclusive shirts in my size before you sold out. That's when I got shoved around like a fucking rag doll. I didn't think you all would be here this early, since your signing is later in the day." I couldn't help but let a small smile slip. I glanced over at Ryder, who was listening intensely as I spoke. Brent smiled and nodded as he watched me through his blue sunglasses.

"We come out from time to time to sell the shirts ourselves, makes things more interesting when we already have shit together. I'm surprised that Sarah and Ian left you alone here." He said as he handed a shirt to a girl who couldn't stop staring and he gave her a warm smile.

"She's actually a few people back in line. We were both shoved forward and then I got shoved back and tripped over someone's leg and fell into Ryder," I couldn't help but glance over at him and blush.

"And of course Greg was being over barring as usual and shoved her back out into some dude. I thought that she was hurt and I wanted to make sure that she was okay, so I brought her up here to calm down." he explained casually as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Putting the bud between his lips and lighting up the end as he glanced up at fans who wanted a picture or an autograph." Sweetheart we aren't doing pictures till four thirty. Don't worry I'm sure we will be here long enough for you to get back up here." He said as he took a drag.

I took the moment to really get a good look at Ryder this close up and without security between us. His shaggy light brown hair just barely passed his dee blue, or violet, eyes that I fucking swear were able to make any girl drop to their knees for him. His black tank top was cut down the sides, exposing the script tattoo on his side, I never really noticed how many he had till now. His left arm was covered to just past his elbow with a half sleeve with an array of tattoos ranging from a swallow, a clock tower with a dark blue sky behind it that was warped to look like Van Goh's 'Starry Night' a tree to the right of that. It looked to dark and twisted as it wrapped around his arm, winding into script that read "Never fall as a fool." He was deep, never explaining the meaning of those worse to anyone despite the constant asking of the media and fans when they got pictures with him.

As I watched him, was soon attacked by two arms around my neck, making me jump and let out a small scream. As I saw her hair up, I looked over to see Brent and Aaron laughing a bit.

"Are you okay? I didn't know that we were gonna get fucking trampled just waiting in line." Sarah said as she pulled back and looked at me with a worried smile. She really was like an older sister, even though we were only 4 months apart. I gave her a warm smile and nodded, happy to have someone I knew personally beside me as I stood under a tent with three very attractive, and very famous guys.

"Yeah I'm fine, Ryder pulled me in and made sure I was alright," I half whispered, almost embarrassed to say what happened, even though it wasn't anything to be embarrassed over, right? She nodded as she glanced over at him as he was talking with Aaron about something related to the show. Smiling at Aaron as he gave her a warm smile. Was there anyone she couldn't wow?

She looked back at me, raising a perfectly plucked brow at me," He did?" she whispered as she glanced over at him again, then back to me. "That's… interesting," she whispered as the gears in her head were turning, heaven knows what this girl was thinking. She always had her head on the romantic and dirty side of things. She was a sweet girl, but had a Pandora box that made any stripper look like a nun.

I glanced back over at Brent and smiled as he came over, putting his arm on Sarah's shoulder, using her as a prop, sipping from his can of beer.

"You two wanna come hang back stage for a while?" he asked. I was so thankful that he wasn't a jackass who thought that all girls wanted him, even though it was true. He was the nice playful guy of the group, one of the few that never changed due to the fame and money. A rare site in the rock star world that he lived in.

I glanced at Sarah before shaking my head," actually we were going to go watch Pierce The Veil. We wanted to get over there and get up front so we didn't have to fight the insane most pits." Sarah looked at me and nodded and looked back up at Brent.

"But we can come hang out after their set." She said as she knocked her hip into his with a playful laugh. He smiled and put his arm down as he took another sip, pretending to be hurt by our 'rejection' of his offer.

"Oh I see how it is, drink our beer and ditch us." He acted as if he was going to cry, complete with sniffles," I knew you always hated me Sarah, no need to make Nova hate me too." He said as he turned his back and I couldn't help but laugh as Sarah's face fell. She went to apologize when Ryder chimed in.

"Brent stop being an ass, they are coming to chill after the shows are over, you can continue your flirting then." He stared bluntly, leaving Sarah red in the face and Brent a little miffed, which actually made him look rather cute. They glanced at each other and Sarah tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear

"Yea Nova you're right we need to get going if we wanna find Ian and get a good spot in the pit." She said with a smile to me," We'll catch you guys later okay?" she said and gave them all a warm smile that they returned, all but Ryder anyway. I smiled at them all and waved too, but when I got to Ryder, it felt like he was staring a little too intense. As if he was trying to look at me through a dazed gaze which sent chilled down my back as we locked eyes. I tried to say bye to him but my mouth and brain just were not on the same page. I couldn't explain what it felt like, other than vulnerable. I gave him a small wave as Sarah grabbed my arm and started to lead me out. As we stepped out from behind the tent and around the tables I finally put together a sentence.

"Bye Ryder." His name sending goosebumps over my skin as I saw him flash a knee wobbling smirk, that smirk that had any girl on their knees in a matter of seconds.

"Later Nova." He whispered and I almost missed it, but I couldn't hide the small smile that spread over my face.