Mange Me, I'm A Mess
I see a light at the end of the tunnel
Alex Gaskarth
I awoke early in a very cramped motel room. Matt drove me up to Maine last night, leaving me at this crummy motel. I got to see our new singer though, so it was completely worth it. Turning over the blankets pilled on top of me, I headed to the bathroom. When I walked out twenty minutes later, my hair was spiked in odd directions, but just the way i'd like it. The JAGK logo stood out against the plain black background my shirt. Skinny jeans, tight enough to probably make me lose feeling in my legs as well was added into my outfit. With my wallet, phone, and sunglasses I headed out, putting my ATL snapback on. I paid for my night stay and headed into town, following the address Kassi gave me. With many stops to ask for directions, I arrived and open the door, bells ringing as I walked in. The small cafe had many bookshelves, filled with hundreds of books. Plants surrounded the environment, giving it the nice and cozy feeling. I looked around, trying to locate the brunette girl. Easy enough to find, at least I thought. I ordered a coffee, waiting for her to show up. I decided on a small table by the main entrance window. Couple minutes passed, making me bored as hell. I really had a short attention span during times like these. I played around my phone, looking up when the bell rang, a girl running in.
"Darling, you haven't been here in awhile!" The lady behind the counter hugged the girl.
"I know, father doesn't really like being alone since you know." The girl sighed, catching her breath.
"Tell him my prayers are with him." The lady hugged her once more. Suddenly the girl walked over to me, sitting in the spot where I was saving for Kassi.
"Excuse me-" I started, but the girl moved the bangs out of her face, and I realized that was Kassi.
"Sorry about that." She smiled, making me smile as well.
"Perfectly fine. I kind of want to get into the main reason I invited you here." I started, and she had the look of panic on her face. "Nothing bad I promise!" I exclaimed, her nodding. "Recently, you know our fifth album came out? Well, our set times are getting longer, and we thought it was a good idea to get another member. Lead singer next to me. Since I easily lose my breath. I ran across your cover, and I wanted to ask if you wanted to be our singer?" I exclaimed, taking a deep breath after saying it.
"M-me?" She whispered, clearly terrified.
"Yes you! You're amazing!" She shook her head, looking down at the table.
"You don't know how much I want to, but I can't. My father, my fans..." She trailed off. I sighed knowing this wasn't going to be easy.
"You're fans weren't fans if they didn't like your cover. Your father, I don't know about. You could Skype him? Call him? Anything!" I rambled, using those stupid hand signals. She took my arms, putting them against the table, laughing.
"First of all, it looks like you're trying to fucking air bend. Second, i'll go." She gave me a crooked smile, her dimples showing. I hugged her tightly across the table, making her try to break the grip. "Stopppp!" She yelled, laughing at my stupidness. I gave her a lopsided smile.
"So I guess it's details time?" Kassi nodded, eager to know what she was signing up for.
"We actually start tour tomorrow. The bus will come around and pick you up around 8. We are touring with Simple Plan, us being headliner. Well technically, tour doesn't start until another week, but since you're joining, we'll need to get you compared and situated and all those fucking things. Know any instruments?" I asked.
"Guitar, tambourine, keyboard." She said awkwardly.
"I think that's perfect." I honestly wanted to jump up and down, excited for this to start. "Lastly, there's a 3 year contract. You gotta keep up with the tours, shows, signings, and just kind of being away from home a lot." I knew this was the hardest part of the deal.
"I'm in." She agreed after a minute of thought. I stood up, dragging her hand. We walked down the street, hand in hand.
"We need to change your wardrobe though." I smirked, knowing band shirts aren't going to last her. Kassi pouted, looking at her We Are The In Crowd shirt. "We'll figure it out, and I really like the turquoise in your hair. You should keep it." I picked up a piece of hair that was hidden behind the brunette section.
"I've talked to you for a day and already changing things about me." She teased, playfully shoving me.
"Nope, I call it improving."
"Changing."
"Improving."
"Asshole." She muttered, making me laugh.
"Yeah yeah. I love the way you look, just that you know. The label just probably doesn't want you promoting bands every concert."
"Why thank you." She faked curtsied. I shook my head, ignoring her stares.
"Would you like me to help you pack my fellow coworker?" Asking happily.
"Why certainly sir." She smiled, dragging me the other direction. After a couple blocks, we arrived at a small white house. "Take your shoes off!" She commanded, once we entered.
"Kass?" A voice called out.
"I'm home dad!" Kassi yelled, letting someone know where she was. A tall slender man came into the room, staring straight at me. "Dad, this is Alex. You know the lead singer of the band I listen to?" She said, smiling at us.
"He isn't going to make any dick jokes in my house, right?" He questioned, making me laugh, but feeling terrified at the same time.
"I won't sir." I promised, looking down at my socks, since I had to take my shoes off.
"Alex, you can head up to my room. First room on the left." She commanded, knowing she was trying to save me from the conversation. I opened her door, not knowing what to expect. Her walls were black, band posters scattered all of them. An All Time Low poster was hung up next to her desk, her desk having a laptop sitting on top of it. On her bed, a princess blanket was laid out, making me laugh.
"Sorry about that!" Kassi came up from behind, opening her closet, pulling out a suitcase.
"He's okay with this all?" I questioned.
"He's worried. But I promised to call him everyday." She sighed, clearly scared of leaving her father.I didn't dare try to bring up the mother concept, since I didn't know what was going on there. I figured she'd tell me when she was ready.
"I promise it'll be worth it."
"Good, now help me!" She whined I rolled my eyes, picking up random things, holding them up for approval. "Alex why would I need a hockey stick?"
"For protection?"
"Put the fucking thing down." She commanded, making me pout. My eyes landed on a guitar in the corner of her room. I picked it up, strumming a few cords. Kass stopped what she was doing, watching me.
"It's a pretty nice guitar." I commented, putting it into it's case. "Bring it along?" She agreed, and a hour later, everything was packed into her suitcase.
"Thanks for helping me Alex." She grinned. putting her suitcase on the floor.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"Unless I wake up and it was just a dream." She sighed.
"You're not waking up anytime soon then." I smirked, leaving her with her thoughts.
I awoke early in a very cramped motel room. Matt drove me up to Maine last night, leaving me at this crummy motel. I got to see our new singer though, so it was completely worth it. Turning over the blankets pilled on top of me, I headed to the bathroom. When I walked out twenty minutes later, my hair was spiked in odd directions, but just the way i'd like it. The JAGK logo stood out against the plain black background my shirt. Skinny jeans, tight enough to probably make me lose feeling in my legs as well was added into my outfit. With my wallet, phone, and sunglasses I headed out, putting my ATL snapback on. I paid for my night stay and headed into town, following the address Kassi gave me. With many stops to ask for directions, I arrived and open the door, bells ringing as I walked in. The small cafe had many bookshelves, filled with hundreds of books. Plants surrounded the environment, giving it the nice and cozy feeling. I looked around, trying to locate the brunette girl. Easy enough to find, at least I thought. I ordered a coffee, waiting for her to show up. I decided on a small table by the main entrance window. Couple minutes passed, making me bored as hell. I really had a short attention span during times like these. I played around my phone, looking up when the bell rang, a girl running in.
"Darling, you haven't been here in awhile!" The lady behind the counter hugged the girl.
"I know, father doesn't really like being alone since you know." The girl sighed, catching her breath.
"Tell him my prayers are with him." The lady hugged her once more. Suddenly the girl walked over to me, sitting in the spot where I was saving for Kassi.
"Excuse me-" I started, but the girl moved the bangs out of her face, and I realized that was Kassi.
"Sorry about that." She smiled, making me smile as well.
"Perfectly fine. I kind of want to get into the main reason I invited you here." I started, and she had the look of panic on her face. "Nothing bad I promise!" I exclaimed, her nodding. "Recently, you know our fifth album came out? Well, our set times are getting longer, and we thought it was a good idea to get another member. Lead singer next to me. Since I easily lose my breath. I ran across your cover, and I wanted to ask if you wanted to be our singer?" I exclaimed, taking a deep breath after saying it.
"M-me?" She whispered, clearly terrified.
"Yes you! You're amazing!" She shook her head, looking down at the table.
"You don't know how much I want to, but I can't. My father, my fans..." She trailed off. I sighed knowing this wasn't going to be easy.
"You're fans weren't fans if they didn't like your cover. Your father, I don't know about. You could Skype him? Call him? Anything!" I rambled, using those stupid hand signals. She took my arms, putting them against the table, laughing.
"First of all, it looks like you're trying to fucking air bend. Second, i'll go." She gave me a crooked smile, her dimples showing. I hugged her tightly across the table, making her try to break the grip. "Stopppp!" She yelled, laughing at my stupidness. I gave her a lopsided smile.
"So I guess it's details time?" Kassi nodded, eager to know what she was signing up for.
"We actually start tour tomorrow. The bus will come around and pick you up around 8. We are touring with Simple Plan, us being headliner. Well technically, tour doesn't start until another week, but since you're joining, we'll need to get you compared and situated and all those fucking things. Know any instruments?" I asked.
"Guitar, tambourine, keyboard." She said awkwardly.
"I think that's perfect." I honestly wanted to jump up and down, excited for this to start. "Lastly, there's a 3 year contract. You gotta keep up with the tours, shows, signings, and just kind of being away from home a lot." I knew this was the hardest part of the deal.
"I'm in." She agreed after a minute of thought. I stood up, dragging her hand. We walked down the street, hand in hand.
"We need to change your wardrobe though." I smirked, knowing band shirts aren't going to last her. Kassi pouted, looking at her We Are The In Crowd shirt. "We'll figure it out, and I really like the turquoise in your hair. You should keep it." I picked up a piece of hair that was hidden behind the brunette section.
"I've talked to you for a day and already changing things about me." She teased, playfully shoving me.
"Nope, I call it improving."
"Changing."
"Improving."
"Asshole." She muttered, making me laugh.
"Yeah yeah. I love the way you look, just that you know. The label just probably doesn't want you promoting bands every concert."
"Why thank you." She faked curtsied. I shook my head, ignoring her stares.
"Would you like me to help you pack my fellow coworker?" Asking happily.
"Why certainly sir." She smiled, dragging me the other direction. After a couple blocks, we arrived at a small white house. "Take your shoes off!" She commanded, once we entered.
"Kass?" A voice called out.
"I'm home dad!" Kassi yelled, letting someone know where she was. A tall slender man came into the room, staring straight at me. "Dad, this is Alex. You know the lead singer of the band I listen to?" She said, smiling at us.
"He isn't going to make any dick jokes in my house, right?" He questioned, making me laugh, but feeling terrified at the same time.
"I won't sir." I promised, looking down at my socks, since I had to take my shoes off.
"Alex, you can head up to my room. First room on the left." She commanded, knowing she was trying to save me from the conversation. I opened her door, not knowing what to expect. Her walls were black, band posters scattered all of them. An All Time Low poster was hung up next to her desk, her desk having a laptop sitting on top of it. On her bed, a princess blanket was laid out, making me laugh.
"Sorry about that!" Kassi came up from behind, opening her closet, pulling out a suitcase.
"He's okay with this all?" I questioned.
"He's worried. But I promised to call him everyday." She sighed, clearly scared of leaving her father.I didn't dare try to bring up the mother concept, since I didn't know what was going on there. I figured she'd tell me when she was ready.
"I promise it'll be worth it."
"Good, now help me!" She whined I rolled my eyes, picking up random things, holding them up for approval. "Alex why would I need a hockey stick?"
"For protection?"
"Put the fucking thing down." She commanded, making me pout. My eyes landed on a guitar in the corner of her room. I picked it up, strumming a few cords. Kass stopped what she was doing, watching me.
"It's a pretty nice guitar." I commented, putting it into it's case. "Bring it along?" She agreed, and a hour later, everything was packed into her suitcase.
"Thanks for helping me Alex." She grinned. putting her suitcase on the floor.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"Unless I wake up and it was just a dream." She sighed.
"You're not waking up anytime soon then." I smirked, leaving her with her thoughts.
8/20/13