No Pads… No Helmets… Just Memories!

(hey.. y'all should leave me a comment on what you think of this chapter when your done reading it because honestly.. I'm not so sure..)

"You boys ready?" Mr. Peacock asked walking over to our small cluster as we watched Jack finish tuning the school's acoustic guitar. The time had come, it was Friday and everyone was itching in their skin in excitement. Whether it be from the one song show the boys were about to put on or from the flooding thoughts of the party to be had at Duncan's later in the night, feelings were good and spirits were high.

Rian nodded towards the teacher picking up his tambourine from between his feet causing Cass to giggle and pat his back. Apparently the boys were playing a new song that they had just finished, the idea to go acoustic was made easy when they decided Matt can take Zack's stool well in a second acoustic guitar and backup vocals seeing as no bass part was needed, just two guitars a tambourine and Alex's voice. Since the boys had supposedly finished polishing it just last night with Matt, Rian said Alex was set on playing it even though no one would know it.

I was set up on a low amp beside Marc and Dre as I slowly popped Cheez-Its into my mouth. "As ready as we'll ever be!" Alex smiled standing fully from adjusting the height of his mic stand.

"Well good because lunch is about to start in five so I'll leave you little people to do your thang!" He laughed patting Marc's shoulder as he passed.

"Hey Jase, your smaller than me, can you come help me make sure everything is plugged into the hanging speakers?" Alex questioned as I nodded my head and hopped off the amp. I followed Alex into the school's DECA store to where all the wires were being fed into behind their little set up till Alex pulled open a narrow closet filled with outlets and wires. I let out a sigh seeing the small space before I took a step forward, but before I could get inside the door he caught my arm.

"What?" I questioned quizzically looking up at him. My brows scrunching together when an enormous smile set up shop on Alex's face. "What's going on?"
I asked hesitantly at his odd behavior before he took hold of my hips and yanked me into his chest. His arms shifting to strangle my small body in a warm bear hug as he held me close. "Uh... Alex?" I questioned feeling his nose nuzzle into my neck.

"I told Jack this morning..." He whispered into my hair as my heart flipped inside out. I could feel the heat of my blush radiating off of my face as I buried my nose into his chest.

"Really?" I breathed trying to fight my growing grin as I felt him laugh.

"Oh course," he chucked tightening his grip around me, "As soon as I heard about us going to Duncan's I knew I needed to do it by tonight because there’s no way I can pretend we aren't together in a situation like that!" A huge smile pulled at my lips as I tugged my head back far enough to be able to reach up and peck his jaw line. "We can tell everyone after me and the guys do this..." He told me referring to the little one song show as I nodded my head. His eyes locked on mine as the bell ripped through the moderate silence causing us both to cringe and pull away from one another.

"Let's just get through this!" I laughed as he blushed looking at me, my smile being bit back as I shook my head and started for the door. The moment I walked into the cafeteria I spotted Cass and Vinny waving me down from our usual table with everyone else as I nodded my head and made my way over to them.

"So you and Alex are what, all good now?" Cass grinned her pearly smile at me as I took my seat.

I bit my lip knowing all too well I was blushing as I shrugged, "you could say that..." I glanced across the table at all my friends letting out a proud sigh that none of them found out and ruined Alex telling Jack, and I was actually happy we waited. The smile on his face when he told me was something I don't think I'd ever want to take away from him. Glancing over at Cass one last time as she sat up and turned towards me, her jaw popping open to speak before Alex's voice shut her window of opportunity as it filled the room.

"ELLO EREYBODY!" He laughed in a funny tone as Matt and Rian took their place on their respectable stools. The room falling almost silent to listen to the boys speak seeing as everyone in the school knew of the All Time Low boys, they were the protégés of Dulaney, and everyone was down for a free show.

"Hello Dulaney High!" Jack laughed waving at the room dramatically causing scattered patches of giggles.

"Monday, the wonderful Mr. Peacock asked us to play y'all a little song this week..." Alex smiled adjusting his jeans before holding into the mic stand. "And for those of you who don't know who that is he is the wonderful teacher for music and the dramatic arts!"

"And for those of you who are just dumb, HE'S THE ONE STANDING RIGHT THERE!" Jack laughed pointing at the music teacher as the teen gained a few disapproving glances from other staff members.

"So we are clearly going to play you a song like one does when they set all this up!" Alex laughed, "But in exchange, we ask you all that if you can to come out and support the freshmen select concerts this weekend that you do! Because you never know, a handful of them could be the next All Time Low, so who wouldn't want to be able to say they knew TWO sets of rock stars in high-school?" He laughed as the lunch room hooted and clapped causing the boys to nod to one another in approval. "This is a new song we just finished this week, so you are all the first to hear it!" Alex smiled at Jack who was adjusting his guitar over his shoulders before pulling the pick from wedged between the strings. The two boys nodding to one another before Alex fluffed his fingers through his hair.

"I wonder what the songs like!" Cass grinned in excitement as she clutched my arm. My own eyes rolling at her excitement that couldn't match the surprise I had for her once that song was over.

"This song goes out to someone very special who has gone through a lot with me, so I'd appreciate all the love and support this band usually gets from this school to be just as strong!" Alex smiled as the rest of the boys adjusted to take their final positions, "I'm not going to rant because I know no one cares but this person will know who they are..." He told the room as I bit my lip wondering if he wrote another song for Tom and that’s why he was so hell-bent on playing it now that it was finished.

And just as I looked up from my tray I heard a few quick notes fill the air before Alex's voice was once again flowing from the speakers. His words spilling through the lunch room air as they hit my ears. The random combinations of letters and sounds began to trigger memories like a slide show in my mind as he began to sing.

Inquisitive and thoughtful,
She was the challenge he'd been waiting for,
A reminder that creativity runs deep like secrets,

-
"Why does it always have to be a battle with you Jasey? Why can't you just let me in?"
-

Dark eyed dreamers - they were a dangerous pair,
"Q" next to "U", scribbled out on paper.

They stop...
They go...
They're done.

-
He got under my skin and in my head and made me feel things I’ve never felt before. Like my own personal brand of heroine. It's always the comparison used, but I guess seeing now, it’s the only one to use. The only comparison that captures how much I truly desired to be just near him. And how bad he was for me. I couldn't control how he made me feel, not with him hanging around.
-

Go back to the place we knew before,
Retrace our steps to the basement door,

-
"But nothing will be like it used to..." I would remind him with a shaky voice.

"Things would be different even if you had stayed," he tried to explain hoping this was a step in the right direction to get me home at the time, "we aren’t in the 8th grade anymore, Jack grew, Zack got a haircut, Rian's got a job, I got more handsome, and you, well you got boobs and a nice ass, oh- and uh- and your braces off, sometimes change is for the better."
-

I'll ask you if the rain still makes you smile,

-
"I thought you used to like the rain?" Alex questioned looking down on me as every set of eyes at the table locked on the two of us. My own falling to my food as I took a hard swallow.

"I- I don't recall..." I weakly muttered as everyone else began to ignore our meaningless banter when they saw it wasn't leading to anything.

"Yeah, yeah you used to sit at the window and just smile like an idiot and watch the rain!" Alex laughed softly calling the eyes back as I bit my lip and ducked my head so our friends wouldn't see my goofy grin. "Do you still do that?"
-

Like so much time we spent in the fall,
Put color in our cheeks while the air turned cold,
Preceding what became our bitter end.

-
"I can’t hurt you anymore!" I protested and a silent tear slipped down my cheek as much as I had tried to fight it.
-
"I TRUSTED YOU ALEX, I ACTUALLY TRUSTED YOU!" I yelled letting a tear slip by as I swallowed my composure, "but I guess that was my mistake, wasn't it?"
-
"And I mean it when I say, you and me..." I turned and looked at him letting my eyes burrowed into his desperate brown ones, my hands moving to unclip the clasp holding the pendant that sat round my neck before I threw it to his feet, "are nothing."
-

Round in circles -

-
“it’s a necklace, my grandad gave it to me when I got my first guitar, and I’m giving it to you, think of it as a peace offering, I want you to have it.” he spoke calmly as I ran my thumb over the soft metal and he loosely slung an arm across the small of my back grasping my hips gently so I was to have my back to him as he sat fully upright. Taking the small pendent from my hands he placed it around my neck so it hung loosely past the neckline of my tee shirt.

“I can’t take this Alex, your grandfather gave this to you, and it’s special to you.” I told him reaching behind my neck to unhook the clasp but his hands stopped mine grasping them and pulling me closer into his chest as he leaned back.

“And you aren’t?” he said and I could feel my face growing pink, he was smooth, that he was, “think of it as me letting something special go in my life, to make room for something more special.”

“You’re such a cheese Alex” I laughed.
-

Let’s start over,

-
. I sat on my floor as I ran my thumb back and forth over the engraved lettering on the pendent. “I’m sorry.” I choked out.

“This is all my fault.”

“I’m sorry!” I cried again.

“I can’t hurt you anymore” I stood speaking to no one in particular at the time, “I can’t do this, this isn’t fair”

Before I could think I was stepping over to my window and fiddling with the safety tab through tear clustered eyes before sliding it open. “I’m a monster,” I cried out all but ripping the pendent from my neck, “I’m sorry!” I yelled tossing it to the grass below and falling onto my knees.

“I’m sorry”

“I’m so sorry”
-

Round in circles -

-
"I have something for you..." He mumbled pulling his head from mine. I looked up at him as I chewed on my lip wondering if he was being serious or not.

"Alex, I can't accept anything from you, you've done so much for me as is..." I pleaded with the taller boy as he rolled his eyes. It was my chance to roll my eyes when he shifted to fish something from his pocket. I wanted to laugh at the boy standing before me as he was clothed in his dress khaki pants and a tee shirt at that point but I was far to put off to be anything but uneased.

"I know you don't do the whole sentimental gift giving thing, but I can only hope you can accept this..." Alex paused as my breath caught in my throat; he held out to me the engraved pendent as my eyes rolled over it. The same guitar pick shaped necklace I had so selfishly thrown out the window those months ago, "I know I've done some stupid shit, and I've been a total dick at times, but you more than anyone know how I feel, and if anything doing this today only made me realize I don't want to fuck up with you again, and made me appreciate what it’s like to have you in my life, so Jasey Rae Dawson, will you be my best friend again, for good this time?" I looked up at him with a light smile as he chewed nervously on his lip. With a shaky hand I reached out to lift the necklace from his tender grasp and thumbed it in my hand. As I looked down at the pendent knowing that day I threw it out the window Alex must have run after me. But that was the day Riley first began trying to swoon me. He couldn't have been there...

"For good..." I muttered running a thumb over the engraved words.

"Good" he smiled placing his hands on my hips to rub small circles into the still tender bones.
-

Let’s start over!

-
"I have something for you!" He beamed as I rolled my eyes.

"Alex you promised me-"

"No, no, no!" He laughed pulling his fist out of his pocket, "it's actually something that belongs to you!" He smiled holding up the too familiar pendent into my view as I blushed, "I just hope you'll keep it this time?" He finished in an almost questionable tone as I blushed a bold shade of ruby.

"Gladly!" I giggled as I took the necklace from Alex.
-

Unanswered questions,
Would be the only thing to stop them now,

-
"He showed up here on Saturday Jasey." Rian continued like I wasn't even there, "he showed up, drunk. Piss ass, shit faced, plastered, straight up drunk off his ass. And crying like a baby. And if it’s not sad enough to watch a seventeen year old boy bellyache like a little girl, all he would do was just look at me and ask why. That’s all he kept saying, 'why did I do it', 'why didn't I tell her', 'why am I losing her'-"
-

He was the poet, while she was the muse,

-
"No," he puffed into the phone with a light chuckle, "its connected to the fact that were older now and you being gone only made me realize how vital of a role you played in my sanity!"

"So you’re asking me to come back to be your muse?" I grumbled picking at the rubbery sealant on the glass door to keep my mind busy.

"No, I’m asking you to come back to be my friend, we need you here Jasey," he sighed into the phone leaning back on my bed, "and believe it or not, for some reason I find you intriguing."

"Thanks..." I muttered sarcastically, "You know, I don't totally hate our new relationship either..."
-

She had a pen that she knew how to use,
A touch of redemption, a hint of elation,
A recipe for disaster.

-
I let out a sigh looking over at my friend; I guess I had to, didn't I? It wasn’t like I brought Marc there to sit awkwardly in silence while he watched me doodle. So that’s just what I did. I sat and explained him everything. Well the recent everything. I told him that Alex and I were friends before I left, and that we had the same sorts of correlation that he and I had. I told him that since I got back he’d been acting odd, and overbearing. I told him that Alex didn’t like me talking to Riley and I told him all about what happened at the party, I told him that ever since I got back it was as if my entire life was based on stupid boy drama, and drama I didn’t even want. I told him that I didn’t really want a boyfriend and that I had enough on my plate as is. all while I explained I sat vigorously drawing the abandon home that say before me, getting every nitty gritty detail as I went along, every crack, crevice, and splinter, the task preoccupying my mind so my words had no emotions attached as I spoke. All the while Marc sat listening, soaking in every stupid word I said. But in all honestly I had no idea why I was so caught up on things; I had no idea why I was even at the tree house.

I thought that by going there, everything would fall into place, like for some reason being back there would give me all the answers I'd been searching for since the moment I landed, but nothing, just the same question bounding itself through my mind.

“Well what are you going to do?” he asked bluntly.
-

Go back to the place we knew before,

-
"Well why not! I'm supposed to be your best guy friend Jasey! Come on I won't judge"

“Fine” I sighed pushing Alex off me and to the floor getting to my feet and taking his hand. I pulled him up the stairs and down the hallway to my bedroom door before releasing his hand from mine. I pushed open the door and allowed him to step in before I followed flickering on the light. I reached down and plugged in the white cord that hung running down the side of my door frame illuminating the Christmas lights me and Cass had strung around the border of my room the other day, with Rian's help of course. I walked in and stepped over to the white table which held my laptop and my camera with a large candle. Alex let out a weird half smile and I raised my eyebrow at him.

“What is it?” I asked looking at him smiling like a buffoon as his eyes ran over my walls.

“Nothing, this is just kind of exactly the same since the last time I was here.” He laughed.

I laughed shaking my head as I walked from the desk to my closet reaching for a rather large box and sitting on the floor with it placed before me. I looked up at Alex as his eyes scanned my walls as I shifted through the box.
-

Retrace our steps to the basement door,
I'll ask you if the rain still makes you smile,
Like so much time that we spent in the fall,
Put color in our cheeks while the air turned cold,
Preceding what became our bitter end,

-
His tear clustered orbs soon slowly came into view as a calloused thumb ran over my lips. "Be with me..." He whispered as he looked into my eyes.

My eyes scanning his serious futures and before I even knew I was doing it, I was nodding, "okay"
-

Let this be a lesson to us all,

Round in circles - let's start over,
Round in circles - let’s start over,

Round in circles,
Round in circles,
Round in circles.

He finished as the last note rang through the air from the two guitars, an applause rippling through the cafeteria as all the grades began to hoot and cheer for the well-known boys. "Thank you..." Alex smiled into the mic holding up a hand, "but I'm going to take a minute to do one more thing if that’s all right?"

"DO WHAT EVER YOU WANT ALEX!" A girl screamed from the freshmen seating causing everyone in the room to laugh.

"Okay, okay!" Alex laughed before clearing his throat, "I'd like to have a Miss Jasey Rae Dawson come on up!"

"What?" I gasped as every head snapped to me, my face flushing a crimson shade of red.

"JASEY... JASEY... JASEY!" Jack slowly chanted into his mic before the whole cafeteria began to join in. I let out a shrill squeal, hiding my face in my hands as I shook my head. I should have seen that coming in all honesty; I just couldn't even swallow what I knew Alex was going to do when I got up there.

"JASEY GET UP THERE!" Andrea hissed taking hold of my arms and yanking us both to our feet.

"Dre no!" I whisper yelled as she guided us both forward.

"GO!" She spat giving me a hard shove causing me to stumble forward a few feet. My body regaining stability as I looked up and instantly caught Alex's gaze. The whole room still chanting like a ridiculous scene from a movie only it wasn't, they were literally all chanting and waiting. The moment my foot took a step forward everyone began to cheer till I was in front of Alex. His smile big as ever as he motioned me to sit in a wooden stool. My body all but falling into place as my legs could no longer hold my weight.

"For anyone who doesn't know who this is," Alex cleared his throat smiling at me, "this little lady is Jasey Dawson, my girlfriend... sort of!"

"I KNEW IT!" Cass screamed standing up as I blushed violently and hid my face causing everyone to giggle playful laughs.

"Now see, I never officially asked this pretty little lad out!" He smiled as a collection of sounds came from the crowd. "Sooo..."

"Alex no..." I whispered as he spun around and took a bouquet of flowers from Marc as he handed them over before disappearing again. A collective gasp falling from every hopeless dreamer who swooned over Alex in the room. His eyes locking on mine as they crinkled from his smile before he adjusted his grip on the mic and got down on one knee. My eyes widening as he did so in disbelief he was going to such great lengths to ask me out when we were already dating.

"I'm not going to blabber on like an idiot like ever girl in here is thinking I will because as much as I would love to embarrass you and tell old stories and shit like that I know I would never hear the end of it, but there is just one thing I need to do. And that’s to ask if you, Jasey Rae Dawson will do me the honor of letting me call you my girlfriend?" He grinned as I watched him. The sounds from the room, the whispers for me to say yes as my throat began to close. In a way I had already said yes, and I had made the move then, but now, sitting there, he put his heart and our relationship on full view. I wasn't a shameful charity case, he didn't want to hide me from everyone, he wanted to show everyone how he felt about me. And so did I. I let my smile fan over my lips as I nodded my head.



"Yes you idiot of course I will!" I laughed and his grin grew even wider as he got to his feet and pulled me from the stool. I heard the crowd roar and Cass begin to vent loudly how she knew all along when Alex caught my lips in his in a heated kiss. A kiss that normally wouldn't have been allowed on full view of the school, a kiss Alex had put everything into. All his feelings, his fears, his doubts, his hopes; I could taste it all. I immediately kissed him back, feeling all the emotions he was feeding off as they seeped from his lips to mine. Simply kissing him back just hoping that my kiss said just as much as his. It was in that kiss, that heated kiss, that I found everything that I had been searching for, everything that had been missing. A brief period in time where it was just Alex and I. But in that brief moment, even the teachers were watching in awe at Alex's actions. The boy who was painted as a player, never being tied down, a party boy in a band going nowhere left to dink on his moms couch had just gotten down on one knee to ask a girl he's known his whole life in America to be his girlfriend. And she said yes. The two of us filling the mold for high-school sweet hearts perfectly, and now that everyone knew, there was no stopping us. He was mine, and I was his, and no one could tell me we weren't.

Notes