Old Faces and New Places

"wakey wakey" I heard Kerry's voice echo through my head as my shoulder was violently shaken. I turned my body over and flipped the sheets over my head, I wanted to be left alone. The whole Alex thing last night kept me up for quite some time last night and I was in no way ready to get my body moving.

"Ash come on we have to get ready we are leaving in an hour" Kerry ripped the blanket off of me, the cold air drifted up my legs encompassing my body. After a whole bunch of self motivation I managed to get myself to face the ceiling. I slowly opened my eyes letting in the light. Kerry stood over me with her arms crossed and mouth in a pout.

"Geez Kerry its so early!" I complained shoving my body off of the bed and dragging myself to the bathroom. All I needed was to change, then I would be all set because my bags have been packed since yesterday morning.

"Hurry your butt up or we're leaving our singer behind." she taunted, sometimes she was a pain but for the most part she was my motivator in life. Kerry was the first person I had befriended here in Texas, she was my bestfriend. Dont get me wrong the other girls were awesome too, its just you cant beat the relationship I have with Kerry.

"Kerry, can you get my phone on the nightstand?" I called out to her

There was shuffling and a few noises until the bathroom door opened and kerry handed me my phone.

"Someones looking for a booty call" She joked looking down drastically at my phone. Pressing the button to light up the screen I saw that I had seven missed calls, all from Alex. But the one that caught my eye was out of the ordinary, this call was recent, within the last hour.

"Yeah Ker I need to call him back" I licked my lips, I pressed the phone to my ear. The ringing tickled my ear, but it stopped abruptly when a coarse voice answered.

"Hey alex, you uh called me in the last hour." My voice was shaky, why did he call me?

"Yeah I just wanted to say thank you for what you did last night and that im hoping we can find some peace in each other." He sounded sincere but the last he said had made absolutely no sense.

"What do you mean by find peace in each other?" I asked, I admit I was curious.

"You'll find out at the concert tonight" He had a playful voice and I could hear his smile.

"Alex-" My voice was cut off by the line going dead. What a jerk!

I threw my phone into my bag in frustration.

"Ashley lets go! The bus is here!" Kerry called me down from the stairs, rushing I grabbed my bags and ran out the door to the giant bus in our driveway. The only thing that sucked was that we had to share a bus with All Time Low.

"Here I'll put your bag away" Zack offered as I walked onto the bus. By putting my bag away he meant by throwing it in my bunk like it was no big deal.

"Figures" I mumbled, letting out a low giggle. I went to the back lounge to check it out.

Seems like I was already beat to that because when I got there the floor was covered in videogames and Rian and Alex were fighting over what to play. The floor was like a death trap because everywhere you go there was a video game in the way.

"You guys! please place these in the video game holder we bought for this tour!" I screeched snatching up all the games and placing them in alphabetical order into the holder.

"Alphabetical order? really?" Rian remarked, rolling his eyes

"Um why is that window open! you're letting all the bugs in!" These boys knew nothing about keeping an orderly tour bus.

"Stop being so fastidious, Ash!" Alex frowned, he walked up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Wow is that the biggest word you know?" I joked, I smiled up at him. The sun caught his smile illuminating it more than ever. I didnt realize I was still in his embrace until Rian coughed.

"Um lets go to the main room" I blushed unwrapping myself from Alex. We sauntered in to see everyone sitting around.

"Okay All Time Low! this is our band take a long look and enjoy." I sat down on the couch as everyone stared blankly at each other.

"Ashley can you come here?" Alex pulled me into the backroom before shoving a paper in my hand. I unfolded it and saw lines that were highlighted and a confused look passed my face.

"What is this?" I stared at him as he nervously chewed his lip.

"Just memorize the highlighted words for tonight, please" He gave me puppy dog eyes, this was the Alex I fell for not the cheating bastard. I loved the sweet and funny Alex, I was going to do this for that Alex

"okay I will" Relief filled his face as he clapped his hands together in joy.

"Thank you!" He pulled my face in and kissed me on the head. I couldnt help but think of what would have become of us if I didnt leave.

~~~

*Concert*

We had just finished playing and All Time Low had taken the stage. Everyone loved them, they were so full of energy on stage and had such a presence it was unreal. The fans jumped around and sang, Alex even played a few acoustic songs. He had just finished playing therapy when he started to look nervous, maybe even scared. Something was wrong.

Someone put their hand on my shoulder and spun me around.

"Caroline? what are you doing, scaring me like that!" She looked dead serious and thats when I knew something was wrong.

"He wants you out there. now." She gave me a little shove, staring into the crowd I was greeted by screams of love and admiration. But right now my focus was Alex. Walking up to him I noticed an empty stool next to him, I sat down in it.

"Did you memorize the lyrics I highlighted?" he asked, sweat dripped from his brow. I nodded and he handed me a microphone.

"Good because we're singing it" The opening notes shook the ground, my hands started to shake and my breath was short. I talked to myself in my head as I made eye contact with Alex. He reached over and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before he started singing.

Alex's voice began the song:

When I was younger I was certain
That I'd be fine without a queen
Just a king inside his castle
With an ocean in between
Now all I do is sit
And count the miles from you to me
Oh, calamity

I scrambled to remember the highlighted words as my part came up,

We get older by the hour
Watch the changes from afar
Keep forgetting to remember
Where we've been is who we are
Now all I do is wonder
Why we ever set the scene
Oh, calamity

Alex then took over

It's such a shame that we play strangers
No act to change what we've become

My part came up again and this time I understood what this song was about, I became more confident with it and sang more powerful,

Damn, it's such a shame that we've built a wreck out of me
Oh, calamity
Oh, calamity

My part soon ended and alex sang again,

I'll remember nights alone
And waking up to dial tones
Always found my greatest moments
In the sound of your hello's
Now I struggle to recall
The reasons you would come to leave
Oh, calamity

When he sang the last line I gave him a cold stare. You cant forget what happened between us,
It's such a shame that we play strangers
No act to change what we've become
Damn, it's such a shame that we've built a wreck out of me
Oh, calamity
Oh, calamity

If I catch you on the corner
Will you even know it's me?
Will I look familiar to you?
Do you offer me a seat?

Alex's voice blending in with mine as he took over the lyrics
Can we find a new beginning?
Do you turn the other cheek?
Oh, calamity

Those words bothered me, I wont be able to forget what he did, it would always be in the back of my mind. Maybe I could learn to block them out but I would never look at him the same,

It's such a shame that we play strangers
No act to change what we've become
Damn, it's such a shame that we play strangers

It was my turn to finish out the song
No act to change what we've become
Damn, it's such a shame that we've built a wreck out of me
Oh, calamity
Oh, calamity

Oh, calamity
Come back to me

After the song the crowd erupted into cheers as I lifted the mic up to my mouth to speak,

"Is this your form of apology Mr. Gaskarth?" I tilted my head and then let the mic fall to my side.

"I dont know you tell me Mrs. Black" He smiled at me warmly as I got out of my seat and walked off the stage.

Notes

okyokayokay

thoughts?

((sorry again if this is crappy))

~sam