This is long overdue. The plot thickens! Read and Review!
Lost: Shane
Heading pounding, Shane made his way through the studio trying to not to stumble in the process. The last few nights have been nothing but a blur with premieres to promote themselves and wild, alcohol, filled parties that Alexis dragged him to afterwards. Shaking away his sleepiness, he tried to prepare himself for the band's performance of their single "S.O.S" yet his hangover and lack of sleep from partying wasn't helping. That and the thoughts of Alexis and what they were plaguing his mind. They had hung out each night, getting tipsy and drunk sharing personal stories, yet they still hadn't defined their relationship.
"Shane you excited?" Jason asked hyperness dripping off his voice despite the early hour. How can be this awake? Shane pondered as he nodded weekly.
"Yes I am, but I could use some coffee. My head is killing me," Shane replied rubbing his temples in the process. For once he understood why his classmates would complain of feeling like dying from hangovers.
"How could headaches cure coffee?" Jason mused as Nate chuckled joining in the conversation. "I thought they made them worse?"
"I think he means it could his headache from lack of sleep," Nate added in as Shane sighed in relief glad that someone understood before his curly headed friend spoke once more. "After all his partying with Alexis is catching up to him."
"Ooooo Alexis," Jason teased as his cheeks tinged and Nate chuckled. Was it annoy Shane day or something? Groaning he tugged on the sleeves of his blazer his mind drifting to this morning. His mom made his stylist pick out his outfit for him so he could be "trendy". Did it really matter that he had to dress to impress his fan base like his father suggested it would as well? Head pounding trying to grasp why his parents were also controlling on how he should act like everyone in the business was doing and his bandmates antics he couldn't take it anymore and snapped, "Guys shut up! Just get me a cup of coffee now!"
The room grew quiet as Shane realized that he may have yelled louder than he originally intended since the whole crew in addition to his bandmates was staring at him.
"Geez okay you arrogant rock star," Nate grumbled stalking off in the direction to the snack table with Jason mumbling in agreement. Realizing that the crew was still looking at him he cleared his throat, face turning red and said, "Okay, get back to work. Nothing to see here" in hopes of them not wanting to draw any more attention to himself.
Luckily they did just as his bandmates returned with his cup of coffee. "Thanks," he replied graciously only for Jason to stick his tongue out at him in annoyance and Nate to mumble a "your welcome." They obviously weren't ready to forgive him for his outburst yet.
Sighing he took a sip of the dark brown liquid, taking in it's bitter taste grateful for the instant relief it was bringing to his drowsiness and headache. Scanning the room, he saw his parents had finally arrived just as they promised they would after the clothing incident this morning. They were talking to the crew with his little brother in tow. Smiling that his brother was there, he downed his coffee and was about to make his way over there until a whift of chanel no. 5 and the smell of over priced coffee filled the air. Turning around, sure enough he say Alexis with 2 cups of coffee in hand and her hair neatly fish braided. Feigning disappointment at not being able to talk to his brother he smiled at the blonde, heart beating glad that he could talk to and see his crush. "Hey Alexis."
"Hello Shane," she replied taking a sip from one of the Starbucks cups before handing the other to Shane. "Here, I took the liberty of doubling up on my order and figured you might need some caffeine as well. You were quite the party animal last night."
Shane blushed as he recalled last night of him grinding on Alexis at the club blushing and stumbling. Unsure what to say, his bandmates walked past him snacks in tow, Jason giving him and Alexis kissy faces and Nate mumbling sarcastically, "really another cup?" before he could utter another word.
Alexis caught this a sarcastic smile forming on her lips. "What happened?"
Shane blushed in embarrassment as he took a sip from the white cup instantly tasting what he presumed to be pumpkin spice. It was delicious, but he preferred his dark strong roast he had downed moments ago. "I kinda of threw a tantrum about needing a coffee."
"Now you understand the importance of coffee once you only have 4 hours of sleep. But what about the kissy faces from Jason?"
"Well uhhhhh…." Shane stammered unsure what to say before his parents came over to the rescue. "Shane they want you on the stage in 5 minutes," his mom said.
"Oh okay, well do," Shane said relieved he couldn't answer Alexis's question. "See you afterwards?" he asked her as the blonde nodded winking in response. Smiling he turned and left with his family in the direction to the side stage to were his bandmates.
"Who's that?" his dad asked his attention no longer on his PDA.
"Alexis Greggor." He replied taking another sip from his cup as he joined his bandmates to where the crew instantly swarmed him and began messing with his hair and clothes. A process he was new to and didn't like.
"Is she your girlfriend?" his mother inquired her full attention on him.
Fidgeting under her glare and the assistants he frowned when his mom took his cup away so they could adjust his stupid gray blazer. "No," he replied sadly as they wired him up for the show.
"At least not yet," Frankie spoke up from behind their mother's leg causing Shane to grin at his brother as the crew handed him a mic and ushered him onto stage with his band mates.
Blinking at the bright lights as he got positioned on stage in front of the mic, he couldn't believe that this was happening. That he was living the dream and was about to perform in front of a studio audience and on television. Grinning he turned to his bandmates who grinned back in response. In that moment he knew that he was forgiven. They were all about to do the one thing they loved the most: sing and play their music.
Sure enough the commercial break ended and the host introduced them as the music to their new single played from their back up band. Closing his eyes he soaked in the beat to the drum that Nate played as he started off the song:
"Told you I made dinner plans
For you and me and no one else
That don't include your crazy friends
Well I'm done
With awkward situations empty conversations…"
Opening his eyes as the beat picked up Shane gazed at the crowd in front of him as and Jason joined in for the chorus.
"Ooooo this is an S.O.S
Don't wanna second guess
This is the part I'm lying it's true
I gave my all for you
Now my heart's in two
And I can't find the other half
It's like I'm walking on broken on glass
Better believe I bled
It's a call I'll never get," he finished on his own as the beat intensified and he felt himself began to groove to the beat. Picking up the tambourine besides him, he beat it watching the girls in the front row go crazy as he did so as Nate picked up the second verse.
"So this is where the story ends
A conversation on IM
Well I'm done
With texting sorry the miscommunication…"
Beating the tambourine to the beat Shane lost himself in the music and began to dance along to the song as he sang the chorus once more.
"Ooooo this is an S.O.S
Don't wanna second guess
This is the part I'm lying it's true
I gave my all for you
Now my heart's in two
And I can't find the other half
It's like I'm walking on broken on glass
Better believe I bled
It's a call I'll never get."
Backing away from the mic he stomped his foot to the beat and nodded at Nate as he began to sing the bridge:
"Next time I see you
I'm giving you a high five.
Because hugs are over rated just FYI…"
Making his way back up to the mic and scanning the crowd his eyes landed on Alexis who had snuck from backstage to the front row to see them. Feeling his heart flutter he locked eyes with her and sung his heart out
"Ooooo this is an S.O.S
Don't wanna second guess
This is the part I'm lying it's true
I gave my all for you
Now my heart's in two….
Yeah!"
Once hitting the high note the crowd went crazy Alexis included. With the music pumping in his veins, the coffee hitting him he poured his soul into the ending his voice overpowering his bandmates
"Ooooo this is an S.O.S
Don't wanna second guess
This is the part I'm lying it's true
I gave my all for you
Now my heart's in two
And I can't find the other half
It's like I'm walking on broken on glass
Better believe I bled
It's a call I'll never get."
Finishing the song he stared off into the crowd in a daze knowing one thing for sure, that all we wanted to do was play his music.
"And that my friends was Connect 3! Be sure to keep an eye out for their debut album which hits stores next week!"
Smiling and waving at the crowd they made their way backstage again as they high fived each other.
"Dude we killed it!" Jason exclaimed excitement in his voice.
"No Shane killed it. Good call on overpowering us on the chorus like you did on the album, it was definitely intense," Nate admitted always the musical genius.
"Thanks," Shane replied still in a daze before adding. "Our album comes out next week." He couldn't believe it, that the past few weeks had gone by so fast. It was October which meant soon they were going to be well known soon.
"And I for one am excited," Alexis said jumping into their conversation as well. "Good performance guys. And Shane you do have a way with eye contact good job." She added slyly staring at him as well.
"Thanks," he breathed unsure what to do or say next. He didn't mean to stare at while singing, but he did it happened naturally. "So what's on the agenda for today and where's my family?" he asked tugging on his blazer changing the subject.
"Well your parents left with your brother to talk to my dad about the music video you guys are filming tomorrow for your single, sorry last minute I know, but Frankie told me to tell you Shane that you rocked it. And as for today looks like we have a free day." Alexis answered for him.
The band nodded gathering this information and Shane inwardly sighed disappointed his family had left, but glad his little brother liked his performance. It seemed like these days his parents were only around to manage his life and not there to watch him live the dream.
"Then I think we should take advantage of this day then and explore California," Shane said snapping out of his thoughts.
"Agreed," Alexis said. "As long as we get to celebrate afterwards."
"Yes," Shane nodded as well momentarily getting lost in her eyes before Jason spoke up interrupting the moment.
"Just make sure you have your coffee before then Shane. We all know how cranky you get without it," he said as Nate snickered.
Rolling his eyes at his bandmates he walked off with Alexis trailing behind him hot at his heels. Today was going to be a fun day of relaxation regardless of his friends teasing.
Hours later after a day filled with eating, shopping, and exploring, he was still reeling from his performance off of Good Morning America and his persistent feelings for Alexis. Lounging around under the stringed lights in the same outfit from this morning (the blazer was starting to grow on him) to yet another party, courtesy of Alexis, he found himself confiding to a group of people about performing.
"I just can't describe it. I felt like I was flying," he said in awe taking a sip from his glass of what he presumed to be liquor. He didn't want to admit it, but he was growing accustomed to having alcohol at any party. It was like his mask, to hide how he felt or show what he wanted.
Nodding in agreement a dark haired girl dressed in an electric blue dress agreed. "Ah yes classic performers high, the adrenaline rush. Even though I don't sing, I do act and I get the same feeling."
"You act?" Shane asked looking at her wavy hair realizing she did look somewhat familiar.
"Yeah. Selena Gomez," the girl said meekly introducing herself as Shane tried not to choke on his drink. He'd should've known, he watched her show on tv after all.
Seeing his reaction the bubbly burnette laughed and waved off his expression. "Yeah it's no big deal. I get that all the time. But congrats on your performance, I'm sure you'll do great in the business."
"Thanks," he stammered shocked as a familiar set of heels marched up to him.
"Alexis," Selena hissed as the blonde rolled her eyes at the Latina and pulled Shane away leaving Nate to take his place.
"What was that about?" Shane asked confused by the blonde's actions towards Selena. Based on her attitude it seemed as if both girls had known each other and didn't get along.
Alexis rolled her eyes as the music blared in the background behind her the party in full swing. "It's nothing. Anyways, what's up with you?" she asked changing the subject not wanting to talk about Selena.
"What do you mean?" he asked oblivious playing along with her antics as he polished off his glass and snagged another one. As he started at his next one, he wondered if maybe his drinking underage was becoming a problem.
"Don't play dumb with me," she whined.
"Look if this is about Selena I was just talking to her…"
"No not that! During the performance. You sing to me like that and then ignore me all day. What was that about?"
"I-" Shane began unsure what to say his cheeks tinged pink for the billionth time that day. Was he really that obvious? Could she really see right through him? The feelings growing towards her?
He stood the chill of the October air getting to him. The weeks they had spent together hitting him the face along with today. As they had shopped, ate, explored, and had gotten his third cup of coffee he had spoken barely any words to her in fear of giving himself away. Suddenly he felt like he was drowning and needed something to hold onto. A feeling he only got when a girl he liked found out he liked her and was anxiously awaiting to hear her reply.
Moments passed before Alexis spoke up before her signature smirk came up on her lips, "Gosh for a pop star you're so stupid," she said before crashing her lips onto his.
Dropping his glass in the process as her arms snaked around him, he held onto her for dear life as she maneuvered him into his first kiss. As her tongue poked around into his mouth he no longer felt like he was drowning, but floating. Catcalls filled the air as Shane reluctantly pulled away from her slender frame to see Jason whooping and Nate next to the Latina who was frowning.
"Get a room," Nate teased causing Shane to roll his eyes in the process.
"Oh we will," Alexis smirked as she dragged Shane to a different part of the party. Finding a dark corner, Alexis pushed him into it, slammed her hips into his continuing where the left off.
Needless to say as Shane struggled to catch his breath between her intoxicating nips and brushes at his inexperienced lips. It was safe to assume that they were a couple.
At least that was what he was going to tell himself as he held onto her to keep himself from drowning again.
