Nearly an hour later, everyone had eventually finished getting dressed and ready for the day - and to await our manager's arrival. When I came out of the shower, Ronnie and Derek got their separate turns using the shower afterwards. I got dressed in a pair of tight black jeans with giant rips on the knees, a red muscle t-shirt with a light leather jacket, and Doc Marten combat boots. Then a black bandanna wrapped around the crown of my head like I usually did.
Ronnie was the last one to shower and the old coot was bound to walk through that door in just a few minutes. He was ready just in time. While everyone else wore their usual every day look, Ronnie looked a bit different today. I hadn't noticed before his fresh black nail polish and very lovely boots that were slightly pointy at the ends. Tight black jeans hugged his legs nicely, complimenting the white AFI t-shirt and famous red leather jacket with zips and straps that hugged his body well. Not too loose and not too tight. Nothing was. His hair was down in its usual lazy straight and wavy locks that barely rested on his shoulders by a good two or three inches.
I eyed his entire appearance seemingly too long, and Ronnie happened to notice. As the guys sat down in the kitchen, Ronnie walked towards me by the couch. He didn't sit down.
"Like the view, Jacky?"
I glanced up at him and raised an eyebrow. Ronnie batted his eyelashes a bit, making me chuckle a bit and shake my head at him. He frowned slightly and playfully shoved me by the shoulder.
"You do look a bit spiffy today, Ronnie." My thick Northern British accent flashing out. Ronnie grinned and ruffled my hair, messing it up a bit. I groaned and fixed my hair as Ronnie walked away laughing. I rolled my eyes and cursed him out in my head. I swear I nearly heard him mumble something to himself. Suddenly, the door opened and our manager walked inside. A small dribble of sweat was trickling down his forehead. He set down some papers at the small coffee table by the door. He wiped off any sweat on his face with a small napkin from his front pocket. He pulled at the collar of his button up flannel and sat down on the other couch across from me. Ronnie called in the others, despite them hearing his loud entry and deciding to ignore it. They aren't too fond of him. He's quite dull actually. But he gets us good cash.
We all sat down on the huge other fucking couch I was sitting on, facing Josh - our manager. We all waited patiently for the fucker as he readjusted his little locks of hair falling over his forehead.
He looked up and cleared his throat.
"We're going to have a quick, yet exciting reunion." He smiled and took out a small slip. As if any of our little reunions are exciting. I wonder what the old coot has for us today. Maybe another tour or something.
"The Vans Warped tour has invited you all to join them this year, and they want you guys to play main stage!" He said with slight excitement in his voice. All of us sat forward and stared at him in shock.
"Warped Tour!?" yelled Ron.
"VANS Warped Tour?" Ryan questioned in awe.
"MAIN STAGE?" Ronnie ended. Ronnie's always wanted to take on main stage in Warped since he was a kid...and now we're on main stage. Dude, this fucking rocks!
We all burst into cheers and yelled as loud as we could until our ears burned out and our voices became adamant. I swear, we could almost cry. Well maybe just Ronnie. I laughed as everyone hugged each other and yelled excitedly, "We're going main stage!" and "We're going to Warped!"
Our manager left us the invitation on the table after we celebrated a little. He also mentioned that we were going to do a few shows in a state or two before we start Warped. So we have to start packing up by tonight. We're leaving early in the morning tomorrow.
We started packing in advance a few hours after the sunset. We are extremely ecstatic to hear about main stage, it's been a big dream for the band. And it's finally happening and whatnot with our band rising up over the rest. After Ronnie made his big comeback with FIR, we've become one of the best musically talented bands in the USA...and quick. So maybe, a few of us were expecting something like this to happen. Possibly. But it's in our hands, right here and now. We're performing on main stage. At Warped. Incredible.
I zipped up my last bag and threw it on my bunk. Suddenly, a hand clasped around my wrist and it's partner muffled my mouth. Then, they took me outside and released me. I coughed up whatever breath I kept built inside. Ronnie stepped around me; his famous red leather, wrapped around his limbs, contrasted brightly against his tan skin nearly made me take a nervous breath.
"What in the hell are you doing, Ronnie?" My accent drawl flourishing out in my own words. Ronnie nudged me along the shoulder and we started walking.
"Lets go somewhere." Ronnie said. I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously.
"Ronnie...we're not going to a bar, are we? I thought you were staying sober?" I said dubiously. Ronnie shook his head at me and smiled.
"I am sober. I meant...I don't know, somewhere. It's really boring just sitting in that tour bus waiting for tomorrow to come. Where do you suggest going?" he asked me. Ronnie glanced at me with a raised eyebrow. I sighed and pursed my lips to the side in a thoughtful manner.
"What about a clean bar?" I suggested. Ronnie glanced the other way thoughtfully and nodded. "They might have a few drinks, nothing heavy. But I'm sure they wouldn't give you any drinks if I request it, even if you beg." I chuckled. Ronnie rolled his eyes and laughed adorably. I smiled listlessly as we took a short stroll to the closest, and cleanest bar we could find. We walked in and thankfully nobody recognized us. I ordered a medium heavy drink from the bartender. She smiled at me sweetly and made me the drink. Ronnie glanced at the drink in my hand and didn't look disturbed by it. That's a good sign.
I downed it and we walked over to the dance floor where everyone was dancing wildly and some drunkenly. I smiled and picked up another drink just sitting on an abandoned waitresses tray. Wow, that one was a heavy one. I blinked my eyes twice to walk steady. That one was really strong. I stopped a waitress and asked her what the drink on that tray was.
Her eyes widened at me and she said those were the heaviest drinks in the bar. I raised an eyebrow at Ronnie and laughed.
"I guess another to get me drunk won't hurt." Ronnie look at me hesitantly, then allowed me to reach for another one behind the waitresses' back while he distracted her. Hn, fucking flirt. She walked away and took the tray after I drank another drink and left the glass on the floor. Pfft, I don't sleep there!
I walked up to Ronnie slowly becoming buzzed and laugh an octave higher. "You're a fucking flirt! I said distract her, not get her number." I mumbled in an annoyed tone. Ronnie narrowed his eyes at me and made a "wow" face as I led him to the dance floor. I found another drink on a table and drank it. Ronnie started freaking out at the amount of alcohol I was taking.
"Whoa, dude. You're drinking way too much, calm down Jacky." He said worriedly. I nudged him away and walked to the edge of the dance floor. Then I took Ronnie's wrist and pulled him with me.
"Just shut up and dance, bro." I said sheepishly. He rolled his eyes and did a funny dance. I laughed and suddenly became quite serious with a pout on my face.
"Ronnie?" I asked timidly, standing still. He slowed down and looked at me in question.
"Yeah?" He said. I looked at the floor and scraped the sole of my shoe against the ground.
"Why don't you flirt with me like that?" I asked shyly, a hazed blush creeping along my face. Then Ronnie shook his head chuckling and said that I've had way too many drinks. I sighed and agreed with him. So I went to sit down by myself at one of the empty tables. I looked towards Ronnie's direction and saw a girl asking him to dance. She seemed nice, but I didn't like that she was with Ronnie. I felt overly offended that she would even try that. I groaned and slammed my head against the table in protest.
Suddenly, I felt a hand at my shoulder. I glanced up...only to meet my gaze with Ronnie's crotch. I blushed deep red and looked up at his face. He gives me a lingering glance before taking a seat across from me.
"Jacky, go have fun. I thought we were going to have a good night...we shouldn't have come to a club. This club isn't all that clean like we thought it was..." He mumbled to himself mostly. I planted my elbow on the table and placed my chin in my hand as I stole little glances at Ronnie's face. He looked at me again and I raised my eyebrows slightly to not seem too enthralled with his appearance. That would be embarrassing.
We stood up and began walking towards the exit. As we walked out I turned Ronnie the other way away and led him the opposing direction of the tour bus. Confusion doted on him for a second. Yet he didn't seem to mind afterwards. We made a turn into a small park, no lights, nobody in sight. Just us and the small breeze outside. Ronnie and I walked in silence right next to a stone wall covered with vines at the top. I kept glancing at Ronnie and his lips.
This weird urge to kiss him suddenly popped up. I screamed "No!" in my head. I tried willing myself to forget about it. But my heart overcame my will. I sucked my teeth and stopped in my tracks.
"Ronnie." I said firmly.