After rushing through set up and sound check I stepped outside to breathe for a minute – something I didn't get to do often.
Plus, it was a great way to avoid Kim and Jack who had gotten into a fight. And I don't just mean a small fight where they don't talk to each other because they're annoying. I mean like screaming, yelling, doors slamming and Kim shedding a few tears. I didn't ask what it was about, knowing that it would only make Kim feel worse about whatever it was.
I crouched down by the buses and took several deep breaths. I froze on the spot when I heard giggling and whispering.
"Do you think he'd be over here?" A girl asked.
"I don't know, the buses and vans are here so he might be," Someone answered her. Band sluts? I rose from my crouch and peered around the bus. Two girls were shyly glancing around the area, obviously looking for someone. I crossed my arms and leaned against the bus waiting for them to turn around. When they did I could've sworn they almost jumped out of their skin.
"Oh my God, you scared me!" One of them said, clutching her heart.
"Are you two supposed to be back here?" I asked.
"Uh, we don't actually know." They answered. I took the time to give them a once over. The one girl who was answering had stunning blue eyes and dark wavy hair. She looked about 16 but mature for her age. In one word she was pretty. Her friend was slightly shorter and blonde and seemed to be stunned.
"Is something wrong with your friend?" I asked.
"Oh my God," The blond one squealed slightly, "You're, you're Kayleigh White!"
"Yes, I am," I chuckled. These girls were harmless and most likely not band sluts.
"I can't believe I'm meeting you. What are you doing out here? How's tour? What's it like being on tour with Fall Out Boy? And All Time Low? And Jack! Oh my God, can you find Jack?" She babbled and I laughed.
"Slow down there and breathe. I can only keep up with so much." She stopped babbling and took a few seconds to collect herself. "Alright, so let's start with names."
"I'm Meghan," The pretty one said, "And this is my friend Crystal."
"Great to meet you both," I nodded. "Now what can I do for ya since you seemed to be looking for someone?"
"Do you think, if it's not too much trouble of course, you could find Jack and bring him out to us?" Meghan asked hopefully.
"I think I can," I smiled. "Stay here and if anyone asks you're my special guests tonight and I'm getting your passes okay?"
They nodded and I re-entered the venue. All Time Low was just walking off stage as I got there. I grabbed Jack by the sweaty collar.
"Come with me, I need a favor," I told him.
He shrugged, "As long as I don't have to see Kim its fine."
I didn't bother asking and lead him outside. The second Meghan and Crystal saw Jack I could've sworn one of them was going to faint. I tuned out their excited chatter with Jack until Kim was brought up.
"Is it true that you're dating Kim from For the Record and Kayleigh is dating Alex, and Haylee is dating Zack?" Meghan asked in a slightly jealous tone towards Kim.
"Nope," Jack shook his head. "As of today I am newly single."
I snapped my head towards him fast enough to crack most of the bones in my neck, "What? You guys broke up?"
All three of them looked at me. Jack nodded this time. "Yes we did and don't bother asking if we're getting back together because we aren't."
I caught the glimmer of hope in Meghan's eye and Crystal looked at me hopefully, "Did you and Alex break up too?"
"No," I made a face, "We're still dating, darling."
"Are you engaged?" Meghan asked looking at the ring on my hand.
"No, it's a promise ring that will one day turn into an engagement ring so don't get your hopes up," I half smiled as Crystal frowned at me.
"Jesus Christ Kayleigh," Kim yelled coming through the door. "If I have to come find you before one more show I will hand cuff you to the stage. We have a minute to be on stage."
I waved at Meghan and Crystal before following Kim inside to play our set.
After the not so great show in Flagstaff, we definitely redeemed ourselves tonight. It was one of the best shows we've played.
Kim and I immediately went outside to cool off. I was surprised to see Meghan standing out there without her friend.
"Hey, what're you still doing here?" I asked.
She shrugged, "Crystal ditched me and I didn't really have anything better to do."
"Who's this?" Kim asked.
"Meghan. She's a big fan of us and J- All Time Low," I caught myself but Kim probably already heard my hesitation. She chose to ignore it and just nod.
"So I'm going to make a bold move here and hope to God you don't think I'm a freak or anything," Meghan started, "but can I come on tour with you guys?"
I was taken aback by her request. Most fans want an autograph or picture, but to come on tour with us? That was new. Kim and I exchanged glances.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because ever since I was little I've wanted to tour – to see new places and meet new people. I love both of your bands and music is my life and since I can't make my own music I was hoping to have second best and be able to tour with an already existing band," She explained slightly incoherently but I got what she was getting at.
"Do we even have enough room for her?" Kim asked.
"I think so. Alex and them have Vinny and Matt traveling with them and they seem to be doing fine."
Kim scoffed at the mention of All Time Low. I was dying to know what happened but that was for a different time.
"We'd have to see what Taylor and Haylee have to say. Not to mention finding something for her to do during shows." Kim listed. "How old are you anyway, kid?"
"16," Meghan said happily.
"Not too young."
The door behind us swung open and Taylor, Haylee, Matt, Alex and Jack walked out laughing.
"Oh hey, it's Meghan!" Jack said, sounding genuinely happy to see her. If her smile could get any bigger, I swear.
Alex put an arm around my shoulder, "Who's this?"
"My new friend Meghan," Jack grinned, tossing an arm casually around her too.
"She wants to come on tour with us." Kim added.
"It depends," Taylor said, wedging her way between me and Kim, "Can you party hard?"
Meghan nodded.
"Can you put up with all ten of us?"
Another nod.
"Can you do the Macarena?" Jack asked. She laughed and nodded again. "That's it! She's in."
"Ah, too bad it's not entirely your decision to make," I laughed.
"But what can she do that's actually useful?" Kim asked.
"I'm sure Vinny could use some help on merch," I suggested. "She can also help set up and take down. Nothing too hard of course, but enough to pull her weight."
We all thought it over for a minute.
"Sounds good to me," Haylee answered.
"I don't care," Taylor shrugged then left the group, climbing into the van.
"Welcome to the crew kid," I smiled. She squealed in delight and Jack hugged her.
"I knew they were going to say yes the whole time," He declared.
"Mhmm," I nodded, "I'm sure you did Jack."
I felt Alex lace his fingers with mine and I turned around. He kissed me softly before Matt's voice interrupted us.
"We should really start loading so we can head to Santa Fe," Matt said.
"You got your stuff kid?" I asked. She nodded and picked up the bag that had been sitting at her feet. I was too caught up in everything to notice it earlier.
Alex let me go and we started to load. Both Fall Out Boy and Marianas Trench left without us again. I got the feeling that they were trying to avoid us and our drama we dragged along.
Somehow I ended up inside the venue alone with Matt doing the once over to make sure we had everything. He walked close enough to me that our hands brushed occasionally.
"So how do you feel about the tag along?" He asked.
"Hey, if I can help someone's dreams come true then I'm okay with it," I shrugged.
"That's what I like about you; you're always so open to anything to help someone," He smiled at me, "Among many other things that would take forever to list."
I blushed at his compliment. He was so cute.
"You have pretty eyes," I blurted before I could stop myself. His cheeks turned pink and he smiled. We fell into a comfortable silence and kept walking through the venue. Abruptly Matt stopped walking, grabbed my wrist and pulled me into one of the best hugs I've ever gotten. I didn't ask why, I just hugged him back. We stood like that until we heard footsteps. We jumped apart and tried to seem normal.
"What's taking you guys so long?" Alex asked appearing from around the corner. "You've been got for like twenty minutes. Let's go."
Alex gave Matt a weird look before turning around and leading the way back outside. Matt tossed Alex the keys as I got into the van. Haylee started the van and pulled out with Kim in shot gun. Taylor was already asleep across the back seat and Meghan sat alone in the very back. I crawled over the seat and sprawled across the bags and blankets. It was strangely comfortable.
"Tired?" Meghan asked quietly.
"Don't bother being quiet, all of us could sleep through a rock concert so you can talk normally," I chuckled. "And yes, I'm so tired I could sleep for a week and still be tired."
"What makes your job so tiring?" She asked.
"It's mostly stress about things that have nothing to do with my job but at the same time, almost every night we're giving it our all on that stage, plus setting up and taking down plus flying and driving – it just tires you out. But in all honestly, I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's amazing to play music for fans every night."
"How do the crowds react?" She asked.
"They've actually gotten more into it since the beginning of tour. I guess more people have looked us up since they found out were touring with FOB," I answered and then yawned.
She just nodded, knowing that I was going to fall asleep any second. I shifted so that the corner of whatever it was I was laying on wasn't digging into my rib cage and drifted off into dreams filled with Matt.
"Wake up fuckers," Kim yelled. I sighed deeply and rolled over – right onto the person next to me. I glanced down to see Meghan looking bewildered and confused. I rolled off her and sat up, my head spinning for no reason.
"Alright, which one of you fuckers drugged me?" I asked, the spinning in my head almost making me sick. I climbed to the front of the van and took the empty shot gun seat.
"Matt," Kim muttered. For some reason I was the only one who caught on. I hoped to God Taylor hadn't heard Kim's comment. I peered over the back of the seat to see that she was asleep and had headphones in.
"Are we in Santa Fe yet?" I asked.
"We've got like an hour," She said. "We'd get there faster if whoever is driving found they're fucking gas pedal."
"Obviously it's not Jack or Alex," I chuckled then sobered, remembering last night. "Hey, what happened between you two?"
"I don't even know. We've been bickering every time we've be alone about stupid things and then last night he was trying to con someone into buying more alcohol and I made a smart ass comment about him and partying and we started fighting about how all he wants to do it party and I don't sometimes and I don't know what happened but I lost my temper and called him childish and a few other things and dumped him. I tried to take it back but he took everything I said to heart and stormed out." She explained.
Really, that huge break up over a few comments? But I guess if you're already bickering and have a lot of pent up anger, one small thing can set it off.
"Do you think he'll come around?" She asked.
I didn't want to feed her false hope and tell her yes after what he said last night so I just shrugged, "I don't know Jack the way you do, so I don't know."
She sighed and concentrated on the road again. I made my way back to the back of the van and flopped down again, my head still pounding and spinning.
"You lied to her," Meghan said quietly.
I shook my head, "I just didn't tell her the whole truth."
"Same thing," She said.
"I'll tell her eventually, just not while she's driving. You don't want to die do you?"
She chuckled and shook her head, "Not really. So what's the plan for Santa Fe?"
"Go there, set up, plat, get a sticker then fly to New York," I said. "I think. I might be wrong though. Kim knows all the date though.
The rest of the drive was quiet. We pulled up to the venue and started setting up. Jack was immediately by Meghan's side.
"I'll show her around and what to do, okay?" He offered. I was surprised but nodded when I saw her face light up. They disappeared and I had a feeling they weren't going to be helping set up. I hauled speakers and guitar cases into the venue until Alex grabbed my wrist and pulled me into him just like Matt had done.
He kissed me and then without warning scooped me up and carried me out of the venue while I laughed. He set me on my feet outside of the vans and resumed kissing me. He roughly but not painfully pushed me against the van, running his hands up and down my body.
I pulled back, "Eagar are we?"
"I've just missed you. We barely get any time alone," He breathed. I shrugged and the intense make out resumed. Within minutes we had slipped into the van and clothes we shedding like they were on fire.
Alex trailed kisses down my neck and collarbone. Everything was perfect despite everything going on in my life. I was on fire and nothing could ruin this moment with Alex.
He bit down on my collarbone and I moaned, "Matt."
Except for maybe that.
