Secrets and Lies
Chapter Twenty Two
-Alex POV-
Sat on the plane back home we were more spread out than on our way over here, Vic and Jaime were sat a few rows in front of us and Kellin was sat across the isle from myself and Jack; who had some in-flight movie on in front of him listening to it through a pair of headphones provided by the airline.
I had no idea what was going to happen when we got back, the only thing I knew was that I could run in the opposite direction from Vic and not have to worry about him anymore.
I put in my earbuds, pressing play on my Green Day playlist and letting my thoughts take over me, my mind finding it's way past all of my tour memories and how much fun I had and was now venturing its way to that little Jack filled section of my brain; our first encounter at the salon, the awkward silences and embarrassing moments were turning in to our innocent butterfly kisses and make out sessions. We'd grown pretty close these past six months and we were around each other 24/7 making great memories together, except from the recent memory of him nearly dying - I remember how ill it made me feel, the pit of my stomach caving in as if I were dying too.
I was pulled out of my train of thought as jack put his arm around my shoulders, taking a picture if the both of us an posting it on Twitter with the caption 'amazing vacation with @awgaskarth....on our way back home to BMORE!'
"Thanks for the camera warning, dude!" I laughed rolling my eyes and leaning into his shoulder.
"You're very welcome!" He responded and rested his head on mine as we both fell asleep.
As we neared the exit of the airport we all said our final goodbyes and called our cabs, Kellin taking his own, one for the couple and finally Jack and I were sharing one. I handed my cell to the guys asking for them to add their contacts and wandering why I hadn't already.
We each got into our rented transport and headed in different directions, out car dropping us off at Jack's place as that was where my car was from the day we left. Neither of us spoke on the way there, the tension lingering in the air as we didn't know what was happening between us or how to go about it, we just drove in silence, looking out at the beautiful surroundings as a thick layer of snow covered the ground as an early Christmas present.
I took her out, it was a Friday night. I wore cologne, to get the feeling right. We started making out and she took off my pants...
What's My Age Again had been my ringtone for as long as I could remember. Grabbing it from my jacket pocket, I saw an unknown number appear on my phone screen. Shooting Jack a worried look I pressed accept and brought it up to my ear.
"Yo, Alex! Wassup man?" The male voice spoke excitedly.
I couldn't quite place who it was for a moment until my brain finally figured it out. "....Austin?"
"Yeah it's me! You're back in the states now, right?"
"As of about two hours ago yeah," I laughed. "What can I do you for?" I asked, unsure of why he called.
"Get your ass down to LA man, it's about the tour." He stated, his voice now a more serious tone.
"Uhhh sure, I'll leave now. See you soon." I worriedly hung up the phone.
I could guess what he wanted to talk to me about instantly. He was going to tell me that my performances weren't good enough and that he wishes I never went on your because I made his label look shit.
It figures.
At least if he did that I wouldn't have to chose between music and Jack, I could finally get to see him with Vic's approval. Yeah....that was never gonna happen.
"What did the boss man want?" The skunk haired boy smirked.
"He wants me in LA....like, now." I said grabbing my duffel bag from the cab and loading it into my own car.
"What for?" He asked, concerned, and paying the driver.
"To rip me to shit." I opened the drivers door and putting my now very numb bum into yet another seat.
"Want company?" He offered with a smile.
I nodded and he got in beside me; he was pretty much my travel buddy which was awesome.
I turned on Kerrang Radio and we sang along for a while, making songs into duets, experimenting with harmonies and just mucking about like we always do.
I missed this - just the two of us, no interfering ex....or any other people for that matter.
After we felt like the artists deserved a bit more respect we stopped singing and turned our conversation to a game of snog, marry, avoid, Jack choosing to marry Dave Grohl over everyone I offered to him, and I was the same but with Pete Wentz.
"Okay," he chuckled staring out of his window and biting his lip. "Pete Wentz, Mark Hoppus orrrrrrr me?"
Mi drummed my fingers on the steering wheel and humming as though I was deep in thought. "Marry Pete, snog Mark and avoid you. Sorry Jaybird!" I cooed, squeezing his thigh playfully.
I was a pretty good liar - I had to be around my dad growing up, I even convinced myself I was straight - I couldn't tell him him my honest answer though, my honest answer putting him above Pete....because what was the point? There wasn't one, it wouldn't solve anything.
Pulling in to the parking lot I saw the towering grey building that Jack brought me to all those months ago. "Nervous?" He raised an eyebrow at me over the roof of my car as we slammed our doors shut.
"Is your favourite movie Home Alone?" I replied sarcastically earning a laugh from him.
We slowly made our way to the glass double doors and stepped inside, greeted by the same blonde girl as the last time, although now we didn't need to confirm any appointments with her, we just took the elevator straight up to floor 10 and knocked on Austin's door.
"Great to see you again, fellas!" He said with a warm smile.
We all sat down and had a catch up, discussing out holiday and what we had all been up to recently. Twenty minutes later he got up from his chair and turned on a a huge screen that was hung on the wall opposite his desk, a YouTube video already loaded and waiting to be played, a YouTube video of me singing Therapy on the last night of tour.
"Alex, did you write this?" He asked me holding up his copy of Remembering Sunday. I nodded. "What about that?" He gestured towards the screen. Again, I nodded. "Can you play it for me now? I need to check something."
"Uhhh....sure." I said walking over to the corner if his room to grab his acoustic guitar to use as a backing instrument. I slung the strap over my shoulder and played the song.
My ship went down in a sea of sound
When I woke up alone I had everything
A handful of moments I wished I could change
And a tongue like a nightmare that cut like a blade
After the song was over and done with, Austin walked over to his desk and retrieved a file from one of the drawers an plonked it down in front of me.
"How do you feel about signing to Hopeless, Alex? I want to offer you a three year contract." He beamed handing me a ballpoint pen from behind his ear.
I DID IT! I FUCKING DID IT!
I achieved what I had set out to do in life ever since I was a little kid, whenever a teacher asked what we wanted to be when we grew up, I never failed to answer with the word 'musician'....they all said I wouldn't make it, that I was never good enough, the only people believing in me were Tom and my parents. Who's laughing now? Me. I want to walk up to every person who ever doubted me and shout an 'I told you so' in their face.
I hurriy took the pen from his grasp and wrote my signature at the bottom of the last page, not bothering to actually read it, I was too excited! I shot my biggest smile at Austin as I nearly knocked him over by leaping on him and thanking him repeatedly with a load of 'I won't let you down's. He chuckled and left the room to take the contract to be finalised, leaving me on cloud nine.
It didn't last long.
I turned to face a very upset looking Jack still sitting in the same chair, it confused me for as a second as to why he wasn't happy for me, but then I remembered...once I got a record deal, we were going to part ways.
I signed Jack away.
"I guess this is goodbye then," he mumbled as he stood up an opened the door but not before facing me once last time. "I knew you'd make it, Lex."
And the door swung shut, leaving me alone.
Sat on the plane back home we were more spread out than on our way over here, Vic and Jaime were sat a few rows in front of us and Kellin was sat across the isle from myself and Jack; who had some in-flight movie on in front of him listening to it through a pair of headphones provided by the airline.
I had no idea what was going to happen when we got back, the only thing I knew was that I could run in the opposite direction from Vic and not have to worry about him anymore.
I put in my earbuds, pressing play on my Green Day playlist and letting my thoughts take over me, my mind finding it's way past all of my tour memories and how much fun I had and was now venturing its way to that little Jack filled section of my brain; our first encounter at the salon, the awkward silences and embarrassing moments were turning in to our innocent butterfly kisses and make out sessions. We'd grown pretty close these past six months and we were around each other 24/7 making great memories together, except from the recent memory of him nearly dying - I remember how ill it made me feel, the pit of my stomach caving in as if I were dying too.
I was pulled out of my train of thought as jack put his arm around my shoulders, taking a picture if the both of us an posting it on Twitter with the caption 'amazing vacation with @awgaskarth....on our way back home to BMORE!'
"Thanks for the camera warning, dude!" I laughed rolling my eyes and leaning into his shoulder.
"You're very welcome!" He responded and rested his head on mine as we both fell asleep.
As we neared the exit of the airport we all said our final goodbyes and called our cabs, Kellin taking his own, one for the couple and finally Jack and I were sharing one. I handed my cell to the guys asking for them to add their contacts and wandering why I hadn't already.
We each got into our rented transport and headed in different directions, out car dropping us off at Jack's place as that was where my car was from the day we left. Neither of us spoke on the way there, the tension lingering in the air as we didn't know what was happening between us or how to go about it, we just drove in silence, looking out at the beautiful surroundings as a thick layer of snow covered the ground as an early Christmas present.
I took her out, it was a Friday night. I wore cologne, to get the feeling right. We started making out and she took off my pants...
What's My Age Again had been my ringtone for as long as I could remember. Grabbing it from my jacket pocket, I saw an unknown number appear on my phone screen. Shooting Jack a worried look I pressed accept and brought it up to my ear.
"Yo, Alex! Wassup man?" The male voice spoke excitedly.
I couldn't quite place who it was for a moment until my brain finally figured it out. "....Austin?"
"Yeah it's me! You're back in the states now, right?"
"As of about two hours ago yeah," I laughed. "What can I do you for?" I asked, unsure of why he called.
"Get your ass down to LA man, it's about the tour." He stated, his voice now a more serious tone.
"Uhhh sure, I'll leave now. See you soon." I worriedly hung up the phone.
I could guess what he wanted to talk to me about instantly. He was going to tell me that my performances weren't good enough and that he wishes I never went on your because I made his label look shit.
It figures.
At least if he did that I wouldn't have to chose between music and Jack, I could finally get to see him with Vic's approval. Yeah....that was never gonna happen.
"What did the boss man want?" The skunk haired boy smirked.
"He wants me in LA....like, now." I said grabbing my duffel bag from the cab and loading it into my own car.
"What for?" He asked, concerned, and paying the driver.
"To rip me to shit." I opened the drivers door and putting my now very numb bum into yet another seat.
"Want company?" He offered with a smile.
I nodded and he got in beside me; he was pretty much my travel buddy which was awesome.
I turned on Kerrang Radio and we sang along for a while, making songs into duets, experimenting with harmonies and just mucking about like we always do.
I missed this - just the two of us, no interfering ex....or any other people for that matter.
After we felt like the artists deserved a bit more respect we stopped singing and turned our conversation to a game of snog, marry, avoid, Jack choosing to marry Dave Grohl over everyone I offered to him, and I was the same but with Pete Wentz.
"Okay," he chuckled staring out of his window and biting his lip. "Pete Wentz, Mark Hoppus orrrrrrr me?"
Mi drummed my fingers on the steering wheel and humming as though I was deep in thought. "Marry Pete, snog Mark and avoid you. Sorry Jaybird!" I cooed, squeezing his thigh playfully.
I was a pretty good liar - I had to be around my dad growing up, I even convinced myself I was straight - I couldn't tell him him my honest answer though, my honest answer putting him above Pete....because what was the point? There wasn't one, it wouldn't solve anything.
Pulling in to the parking lot I saw the towering grey building that Jack brought me to all those months ago. "Nervous?" He raised an eyebrow at me over the roof of my car as we slammed our doors shut.
"Is your favourite movie Home Alone?" I replied sarcastically earning a laugh from him.
We slowly made our way to the glass double doors and stepped inside, greeted by the same blonde girl as the last time, although now we didn't need to confirm any appointments with her, we just took the elevator straight up to floor 10 and knocked on Austin's door.
"Great to see you again, fellas!" He said with a warm smile.
We all sat down and had a catch up, discussing out holiday and what we had all been up to recently. Twenty minutes later he got up from his chair and turned on a a huge screen that was hung on the wall opposite his desk, a YouTube video already loaded and waiting to be played, a YouTube video of me singing Therapy on the last night of tour.
"Alex, did you write this?" He asked me holding up his copy of Remembering Sunday. I nodded. "What about that?" He gestured towards the screen. Again, I nodded. "Can you play it for me now? I need to check something."
"Uhhh....sure." I said walking over to the corner if his room to grab his acoustic guitar to use as a backing instrument. I slung the strap over my shoulder and played the song.
My ship went down in a sea of sound
When I woke up alone I had everything
A handful of moments I wished I could change
And a tongue like a nightmare that cut like a blade
After the song was over and done with, Austin walked over to his desk and retrieved a file from one of the drawers an plonked it down in front of me.
"How do you feel about signing to Hopeless, Alex? I want to offer you a three year contract." He beamed handing me a ballpoint pen from behind his ear.
I DID IT! I FUCKING DID IT!
I achieved what I had set out to do in life ever since I was a little kid, whenever a teacher asked what we wanted to be when we grew up, I never failed to answer with the word 'musician'....they all said I wouldn't make it, that I was never good enough, the only people believing in me were Tom and my parents. Who's laughing now? Me. I want to walk up to every person who ever doubted me and shout an 'I told you so' in their face.
I hurriy took the pen from his grasp and wrote my signature at the bottom of the last page, not bothering to actually read it, I was too excited! I shot my biggest smile at Austin as I nearly knocked him over by leaping on him and thanking him repeatedly with a load of 'I won't let you down's. He chuckled and left the room to take the contract to be finalised, leaving me on cloud nine.
It didn't last long.
I turned to face a very upset looking Jack still sitting in the same chair, it confused me for as a second as to why he wasn't happy for me, but then I remembered...once I got a record deal, we were going to part ways.
I signed Jack away.
"I guess this is goodbye then," he mumbled as he stood up an opened the door but not before facing me once last time. "I knew you'd make it, Lex."
And the door swung shut, leaving me alone.
Notes
GUYSThe story is now getting started ;)
mwahahaha!
Thank you for reading :)
<3
What happens in the last chapter cuz its gone. Omg though amazing story
5/29/16