I'm going to apologize now for how long it is!
This is the first time i've tried switching POV's! :)
let me know what you think!
Johns POV-
"Dude, where's Lacey?" Brian asked across the table.
I looked down at my phone to check the time; it had been 20 minutes since Lacey had said she had to go to the bathroom. Something was wrong. Flipping my phone open I quickly texted her, "where are you? I'm getting worried." Rethinking it I deleted "I'm getting worried" and sent the text. She did this to make me worry; I wasn't going to tell her I was.
"You were a real jerk John," Stephen shot me an icy glare.
"Whatever, she lied to me about that Chris guy. We don't lie to each other, honesty is what our relationship is built upon," I justified.
"She lied to you about Chris because she didn't want you to start your own band John," Jess exclaimed, "she loves this band almost as much as she loves you."
"Look I just texted her okay, everybody calm down," I replied frustrated.
"You have no idea how much it would suck if you lost her do you?" Josh asked; I couldn't believe he was actually taking their side.
"I did lose her, right after she lied to me about Chris," I replied.
"For a day, John!" Jess yelled, "And what did you do when it happened? You were upset John, you didn't leave your apartment."
I couldn't even argue back because I knew she was right; if I ever lost Lacey for real I'd be a mess. Everyone knew I loved her like crazy, but I couldn't get past the fact that she would lie about something so dumb.
"Think about it this way," Brian began as he pushed his tray out of the way, "if Lacey hadn't lied to you and you started your own band with this Chris guy, or she did and saved The Summer Set."
"I understand, "I finally replied, "look I'll go find her, I'm sure she's just outside. We'll talk and everything will be fine."
Josh stepped out of the booth and I slid out, passing the bathrooms I pushed the glass door open and expected to find Lacey sitting on the curb. But all I found was a half empty parking lot and an empty feeling that crept into my chest.
Lacey's POV-
After the movie I texted John Ohh telling him Garrett, Rachael and I were headed to his house. He replied with an "awesome " We pulled up in front of John's house and memories of us ran through my head. John and I used to be close. Really close. If I hadn't met John Gomez at exactly the time I did, I'd still be with John now. We were perfect for each other but all good things come to an end, right? "Lacey Loo!" John exclaimed pulling me into a hug as we stepped in the door.
"Hi John," I giggled over his shoulder. Gazing around the room I noticed a few familiar faces.
Eric of course was there, along with Aaron, Pat, Jared, Tessa, Max, Tim, and his girl friend Ashley. Soon Justin and Andrew come around the corner and my jaw dropped,
"Andrew?"
He looked up at me and smiled, "Hey Lace!"
"You're here, in Arizona!" I exclaimed running over to his side and pulling him into a hug. Andrew was probably my favorite of all the band guys I knew. One time John was out of town and I ran out of gas, the guys had a raging party the night before and the only person able to drive was Andrew. He came and picked me up at 7:00 in the morning, if that's not a great guy, I don't know what is.
"Yeah, I flew in this morning from New York," Andrew explained.
"Alright guys," John announced, "we want a big party for when Britta comes home. She just filmed her first music video, that's big!"
"Hell yeah!" Eric fist pumped.
I laughed and plopped down on the couch next to Andrew and stole his hat, life without John was becoming more fun than I thought.
John's POV-
I ran back inside and slammed the girl's bathroom door open; luckily no one was in there, sadly, that meant Lacey wasn't in there either.
"Guy's I can't find Lacey!" I exclaimed as I breathlessly as I raced back to the table.
"What do you mean she's gone?" Brian asked as they all slid out of the booths.
"I mean she's gone, like not here!" I replied.
"Maybe she went home," Jess replied shrugging it off.
"And how would she get home?" I asked frustrated.
"Garrett and Rachael were here, maybe they gave her a ride home," Jess suggested.
"Why wouldn't she tell me though?" I whined.
"Maybe because you were a complete asshole to her for no reason," Stephen huffed.
"Whatever, I have to find her," I waved a small goodbye and headed for the door. My phone went off in my pocket, scraping for it I hoped it was Lacey. Instead it was a call from Eric; I didn't have time to talk to him now.
"Lacey where are you?" I whispered to the hot Arizona day as I climbed in the driver's seat and rested my head on the steering wheel. I really fucked up this time.
Lacey's POV-
"Alright," John began, "for this party we need decorations, food, drinks, alcoholic drinks, music, and people."
"Ah yes," I smiled, ": people would be a nice touch."
"Oh thanks Lace," John replied with a sarcastic tone and fake smile.
"Well we'll take food," Time volunteered himself and Ashley.
"And Justin and I will get drinks," Andrew added, "like normal drinks."
"Music is fine with us," Jared suggested. Tessa shook her head.
"Okay," John looked down at the list in his hand, "that leaves alcohol and people."
Aaron raised his hand, "I'm great with people!" he jokingly announced.
"Me too," Pat piped in.
"Okay…" John began.
"Me too!" Max interrupted him.
"Okay so Aaron, Max, and Pat are going to get people," John rolled his eyes, "and they are going to be people Britta knows, and would want at her party. Right guys?"
"Right," Pat shook his head.
"So that leaves me, you, and Lacey to get alcohol," Eric laughed, "Lacey's not even 21."
"No problem," John stood up, "Halvo and I will get the alcohol and Lacey can come along for the ride."
"Uhm, what about us?" Rachael stuck up her hand and waved it over her and Garrett.
"Oh shit," John bit his lower lip, "do you want to help Tim and Ashley get food?"
"Sounds good," Garrett threw up his metal hand, "we shall buy shrimp cocktail!"
"That's an absolute negative!" Eric exclaimed a little too over exaggerated.
"And why is this?" Garrett asked retiring his metal hand.
"Britta is deathly allergic to any type of shellfish. Even having it at the party would be a danger to her and our baby," Eric explained.
My respect for Eric shot through the roof after that last statement. The fact that he was so protective of her and the baby made me feel better about them. They might bicker from time to time but they were undeniably in love.
"Holy shit," Rachael exclaimed, "not to self, don't ever bring shell fish to a party Britta is attending."
"Okay, hear that everyone," John announced, "no shellfish!"
Why was John the one planning this party anyway? Wouldn't that be Eric's job? I was confused but I still thought it was cute; helping your best friend's wife has an amazing party; that was nice of him.
"Wait why isn't John going with Lacey?" Aaron asked.
"I am," John replied confused, "Lacey, Halvo, and I are getting the booze."
"No I mean J Go," Aaron replied rolling his eyes.
John looked at me and waited for a response, "is John coming?" he asked.
Rachael cleared her through and Eric noticed the tension, "I called his earlier," he broke the silence, "he said he was busy, but he'd make it to the party."
Looking at Eric in disbelief I stuttered a reply, "John, John's not gonna make it tonight. And I don't know about the party either. I'd rather not talk about it."
"Good job Aaron!" Pat smacked his arm.
"No it's alright," I exclaimed, "just drama."
John noticed my change in tone and decided it was time to go.
"Okay, everyone has their jobs. Let's go," he started heading for the door and grabbed his keys off the stand, "Lacey and Halvo get yo butts in my car."
Eric and I stood and followed John out the door. Pat was the last out and as he turned around to close the door I heard music in the distance. I'd recognize that song anywhere.
"John open the car now," I yelled and ran for the backseat.
"Okay," he replied suspiciously and pulled the door open for me, "can I ask why you just flipped shit?"
"You hear that?" I asked referring to the sound of "Coming Clean" that was getting louder as it got closer.
"Of course I hear it, what about it?" John answered as he slid into the driver's seat.
Sighing I asked, "Who do you know blasts Hilary Duff?"
John's POV-
"Lacey pick up your phone!" I whined out loud as her voicemail picked up again in my ear.
I had been driving around Scottsdale for an hour looking for her. After checking home, Eric, Kelsey, and Rachael houses I almost gave up hope. I had to clear my head and the only way I could was to roll all the windows down and blast some Hilary Duff. I selected "Happy" but then remembering it was Lacey's favorite I had to change the song. I didn't want to think about her, because I knew as soon as I did I'd realize how much of an ass that I had been.
Pulling up to a red light my phone vibrated and a part of my chest warmed inside. Digging it out of my pocket I checked the screen and was disappointed to see it was only a text from Halvo. This was the second time he tried to contact me and I figured it must have been something important. Clicking "open" I read the text aloud to myself.
"Hey man. I know I'm probably going to get slapped for sending this, but I wanted you to know Lacey's safe. I'm guessing you're pretty freaked out right now so I figured I should assure you she's fine."
Soon my breathing shallowed; she was safe? What the hell did that mean? Did he save her from a burning building? Frustrated, I texted him back.
"Thanks for the text man, I'm less worried now but still freaked out. If you're with Lacey now tell her I'm an ass and I'm sorry. Let's meet up somewhere to talk."
The light turned green and I took off, angrily stomping on the gas as the beginning of "Come Clean" danced into the car. Taking a few left turns I ended up on the next street over from John Ohh's house. Guessing Halvo was there, meaning Lacey was too, I decided to head that way.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" John exclaimed as we reached the back of the grocery store. Somehow we had made it out of John's neighborhood before the music go too close. Speeding to the Piggly Wiggly, John nearly pulled my arm off dragging me in the store and pushing me through the sliding doors. "I don't want you to be seen!" he yelled in a fake French accent. I knew he was just trying to cheer me up, but he was being a little too over flirty, but then again, that was John.
"What is this shit?" Eric asked picking up a case of beer that looked as if it should cost no less than 50 cents. Eric was being abnormally quiet that day; I guessed he was missing Britta. He was always bummed when she wasn't around. I remembered the day he left to surprise her in LA, he was so excited to see her again he almost forgot to pack. I wished John would miss me sometimes. The thought of John made my head heart and I tried to focus on the task at hand.
"Well this is shit!" John stomped away.
"Let's just go to Crazy Steve's like we always do John," Eric suggested.
"Crazy Steve is having knee surgery Eric," John called over his shoulder, "place is closed until March."
"Ah shit," Eric whispered as we followed John to the front of the store, "What about that place in downtown Tempe?"
"What place?" John asked.
"I've never been there but Loren used to get booze there before he moved," Eric explained, "I guess it's pretty cheap. But cops are like on watch 24/7 cause it's pretty sketchy. I don't know if Lacey would be able to go in. I don't think she should."
"Oh no no no," I shook my head, "there is no way I'm going to sit in the car is downtown Tempe."
"So what are we supposed to do?" John asked.
"Uh, just drop me back off at your house and you guys go to the store," I suggested.
"Sounds good to me," John shrugged and we headed back out to the car.
"Why are we going crazy over getting booze anyway?" I laughed, "Britta can't even drink."
"Cause she's having my baby," Eric sing-songed.
Smiling I patted Eric on the shoulder and said, "You're gonna be a great dad buddy."
"Thanks," Eric chuckled, "but truthfully, I'm scared to death."
"Don't be!" I exclaimed, "You know it's going to be amazing. Just wait, you're going to love being a dad."
"I'm sure I will," Eric sighed, "but I'm 21 and I'm married and going to be dad. Britta is 19, what if she's not ready to be a mom? What if she wants to just be a normal 19 year old?"
"Eric if she wanted to be a 'normal 19 year old' do you think she'd be dating you?" I asked.
"Oh thanks," Eric replied sarcastically.
"No Eric I'm serious," I chuckled, "she might be 19 but she'll be 20 before the babies born. And with or without this baby Britta was never meant to be a normal 19 year old. You guys are leaving on tour in a month. Normal 19 year olds don't go on tour, or shoot music videos."
"Or get married in Vegas," Eric added.
"Or get married in Vegas," I repeated him, "Eric don't you think if she didn't want her life exactly like this she would have asked you to marry her?"
"No, I guess you're right," Eric sighed, "I love our life like this."
"She does too, trust me," I replied as we pulled into John's driveway.
"The doors unlocked," John called to me, "make yourself at home."
"Bye guys," I waved as they pulled out of the driveway.
Stepping into the house I kicked off my shoes and padded over to the big mirror on the wall. You could tell John and Eric had gone shopping together when Eric and Britta bought their house and John bought this one, cause the same mirror was on the wall at their house.
Examining my face in the mirror I stepped closer and leaned my forehead on the cool surface. My breath fogged up the surface and I watched as the steam faded and reappeared as I exhaled and inhaled. My eyes, usually bright and kelly green, were tired and the gold flecks were barely visible. Tucking my hair behind my ears I stepped away from the mirror and pulled off my jacket. Underneath I wore John's black wife-beater, I loved how the ribbed style hugged my body and if I didn't wear it too much it still smelled like him.
Plopping down on the couch I flipped on the TV and tried to find something to watch. "What I Like About You" was on The N, I liked that show so I clicked on it. A Proactive commercial faded out and I readjusted on the couch,
"Let's take this back 2005…" poured out of the TV.
"WHAT?" I shot off the couch, "Chelsea?"
The camera panned to John and I watched as my face flashed across the screen in the crowd, "ME!" I screamed.
"I'm on fucking TV!" I yelled, "Too bad no one knows who I am, that I'm even in the video, and that I'm dating John." I mumbled to myself.
Sitting back down on the couch I whipped out my phone and texted Stephen, "video for Chelsea was just on The N, I shit bricks."
I lay on the couch for a little while longer but soon decided to flip off the TV and explore the house. Quietly creeping to the foyer I pushed open a door and revealed what looked to me as John's bedroom. Tip toeing inside a pile of pictures on the floor caught my eye. Crouching down I picked a few up and smiled back at the grinning faces. Some of them were of John and his ex-girlfriend Melissa, some were of him and Halvo, most of the band, and lastly some of me and him; a long long time ago.
I looked at my flat hair, and chest for that matter, and unpierced nose. I was a pretty cute 10 year old. John smiled wide, his braces causing a tinge of silver flash over his teeth.
"What's he doing with all these pictures?" I asked out loud. And then I looked up; a huge collage of pictures hung on the wall with a glass case protecting them. Hundreds of photos lay across the flat surface and a tiny spot of more lay untouched.
Every picture John had ever taken of us was on the wall, as well as some of the very first pictures of The Maine. Britta and Eric's "I Just Got Married In Vegas" picture was up there too. I couldn't believe he had kept every single one. The collage was breath takingly beautiful.
Climbing up on John's bed I was taken aback by how comfortable it was. Grabbing his iPod off the night stand I stuck the headphones in my ears and scrolled through his music. John has some good music, and some well "John music." I put on a John Mayer song and closed my eyes. I didn't plan on falling asleep but John's bed was so comfortable I couldn't stop myself from slipping into a soft coma.
John's POV-
10 o'clock! 10 o'clock and she's still not home. And what the hell did Eric mean with she's safe? Is she at Eric and Britta's house? No she'd at least call me, or text me, or something. I'm going crazy.
I paced the apartment and wait for the phone to ring but it never did. I had no idea where Lacey was. The last time I saw her was at In-N-Out, and then she was gone. The sun had set hours ago and I was now on the brink of losing my mind.
"Eric!" I exclaimed, "I'll call him! He texted me saying she was safe, she's got to be with him."
I dashed for my phone and quickly dialed Eric's number.
"Hello!" he answered laughing. I heard John Ohh's voice in the background.
"Eric, hey what's up?" I asked nervously.
"John if you're calling for Lacey she doesn't want to talk to you," Eric sighed into the phone.
"So she's with you. Okay, that's all I wanted to know, that's she's okay." I replied.
"Yes John, she's sleeping actually," Eric explained.
"Sleeping? Are you at your house?" I started to pace again.
"No John, I'm not home right now, and I'm not going home tonight." Eric answered.
"Why why not?" I asked.
"Because Britta's not coming home until tomorrow so I'm spending the night here with a friend," Eric replied, "don't worry Lacey is safe, I'm here, staying at the same place she is."
"Why can't she just come home?" I quietly whined.
"Because she's sleeping John," Eric huffed, "she fell asleep while we were out shopping and I'm not going to wake her up. Plus she's pretty pissed at you, from what I hear you were quite the dick to her."
"Ugh," I groaned. I wanted to throw the phone across the room, "but she, she doesn't even have stuff."
"She left her bag in Kennedy's car after he brought her from the airport to your house. We went to the airport and used the spare to get her bag out. She has everything she needs John. I will see if she wants to talk to you when she wakes up."
"I guess you've got everything covered," I sadly admitted.
"Yes, everything's fine. Now get some sleep." Eric replied annoyed.
"I'll try," I sighed and said goodbye.
"And John," Eric quickly added, "maybe this will make you think."
"Think about what?" I asked confused.
"Think about the fact that when you're in love, you have to let the little things go. She was only doing what she thought was right man. Goodnight," and he hung up.
I squeezed my eyes shut and tried not to scream. This whole thing wasn't fair. Lacey was sleeping at someone else's house who I don't even know who. She hated me, and I was left with nothing but an empty apartment and hours and hours to do nothing but think.
thanks for reading! :D
reviews = John Gomez. enough said