Five Years

Jenna and I woke up the next morning, my headache was minor but hers was huge. I walked her back over to her bus and made her a breakfast to cure a hangover. I set down the toast, coffee, and Tylenol in front of her.

“You’re the best.” She smiled and chowed down on the food; I patted her head and went back to my bus. I hopped into the shower and washed away everything from last night. Tonight was going to be great, Jake was going to meet me at the gates to the buses in a couple of hours so I could show him a good time before the show. I got out of the shower and went to my bunk to pick out a goof outfit for tonight, something that would impress him enough as what I wore last night. I picked out a blue bodycon dress with a cutout neckline and white wedges. I did simple winged eyeliner and sheer lip gloss so it wouldn’t be too dramatic.

I stepped out of the bathroom and Jack’s jaw dropped. “Now why the hell do you look like you’re going to a red carpet event?”

“I have a date tonight.” I rolled my eyes.

“Come sit down and tell me all about this date.” He guided me to the back lounge and sat me down. “Who’s the guy?”

“Alex didn’t fill you guys in on this?” I furrowed my brows.

“Alex left first thing this morning, he was going out to explore the city.” Jack said like I was supposed to know.

“Weird, well my date’s name is Jake and we met at a bar last night.” I told him.

“Wait, this is the guy you met last night? I didn’t know that you planned on still seeing him.” He laughed. “Well where are the two of you meeting?”

“He’s actually coming here, to the concert.” I smiled.

“Now, don’t take this the wrong way, but aren’t you a little overdressed for a concert?” He asked. “I mean you look hot and all but I don’t think you’d want to be standing for a couple hours in those heels.”

I looked down at my outfit and realized that I was overdressed. I sighed and went over to my bunk. I honestly didn’t have much experience in the dating scene; dates were never my thing so I was happy when I went out with Alex. Things were so simple then, plus we were best friends anyway so we already knew everything about each other which let us skip the awkward first date.

I grabbed a pair of dark skinny jeans, my black vans, and a daisy print flowy crop top. I came back out in the new clothes and Jack smiled. “Now that is an outfit for a concert date.” I sat down next to him and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “So, when this guy comes, be sure to introduce me.”

“No, she has to introduce me first.” Zack walked into the room. “After all, I am her brother.”

“You know I will.” I laughed and stood up from the couch. Zack pulled me into a hug and then I was off to the Tonight Alive bus to check up on Jenna. When I walked on the bus she was sitting on the couch in the front lounge, fully dressed and looking a lot better than she was earlier.

“Good morning sunshine!” I jumped onto the couch beside her and attacked her with a big hug. “You’re looking well this morning.”

“Thanks,” she laughed and rolled out from underneath me. “Thanks to you I’m actually feeling as good as I look.”

“I don’t know,” Cam laughed.

“Oh shut up,” she laughed and hit his arm. “So Shay, are you excited for your date tonight?”

“You have a hot date tonight?” Cam lifted his eyebrows and sat down between Jenna and I. “Nice, are you going to introduce us to him or are you two going out for the night?”

“I actually invited him to watch the concert tonight, I’m really excited for you guys to be able to meet him because he’s such a nice guy.” I smiled.

“And he’s hot.” Jenna added. I rolled my eyes and got up from the couch but Whakaio pulled me into a bear hug to keep me from leaving.

“I heard that you’re going out with a hot guy and I don’t think I trust you on a date with him.”

He laughed. “Who knows what the two of you are going to do behind closed doors.”

“You guys, we seriously just met over a week ago!” I giggled while I was trapped in his arms, then in a deep voice I continued. “You don’t know me, you don’t know my life.”

“All right, all right.” Cam pulled me out of Whakaio’s arms. “Let the girl do what she wants, let her date whoever the hell she pleases.”

“Thank you!” I sighed. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have someone to meet at the gates.” I skipped out of the bus and waved to Jenna before running off to meet Jake at the gates. I saw Jake at the gate, pass in hand and dealing with security. I showed security my pass and they let him in.

“Thanks for saving me out there.” He flashed his million dollar smile and I felt myself go weak in the knees. I regretted not going home with him last night but I know that I’ll have time tonight to make it up to him.

“No problem, I’m just glad that you made it.” I smiled and wrapped my hands around his arm.
“So if you don’t mind, I’d like to take you around and introduce you to everyone before the show tonight. They’re pretty excited to meet you.”

“Oh wow,” he laughed. “Of course.”

First we walked onto the PTV bus so I could show him off to the guys. As soon as I stepped on, Jaime had a huge smile on his face. “Hey guys, Shay and her date is here.” Jake and I stood in the front lounge and soon the guys came into the front as well.

“So Jake, this is Jaime, Tony, Vic, and Mike.” I pointed to each of them and they all smiled and waved when I said their names.

“Well it’s good to meet you guys and I’m really excited to see you perform tonght.” Jake smiled and I pulled him along to the TA bus next. The introductions went by quickly and then I was off to the ATL bus where I knew things would turn out well.

The boys were already in the front of the bus where I could easily introduce them. Jack and Jake got along well, they talked for a while until I managed to steal him away and introduce him to Zack. Zack was simple and protective, showing that if he messed with me then he would mess with Zack. Then Rian was as he always is, the easy going guy that everyone loves. And then we moved on to Alex. Since he was finally back I thought he would get along well with Jake but he seemed hostile and distant.

Jake and I left the bus and went into the venue where TA was starting their sound check. We sat in the ATL dressing room and I leaned onto his shoulder. “So what did you think of everyone?” I asked.

“Well they all seemed pretty nice; the only one that didn’t seem to like me was Alex.” He shrugged and looked into my eyes.

“Sorry about him, I don’t get what he doesn’t like about you, you’re practically perfect.” I sighed and rested my hands on his shoulders.

“We don’t have to worry about him,” Jake smirked and moved closer to me, pulling me onto his lap and resting his hands on my hips. “Let’s just worry about us.” I closed the distance between us and connected our lips, starting off with sweet kisses. Our chests touched and things started to get heated when our tongues touched. I moved one hand to get tangled in his hair and allowed my other arm to wrap around his neck. I grinded on his lap and moaned in the kiss, I wanted this to turn into something more. The door opened and Jack nearly screamed.

“Fuck,” I mumbled to myself as I got off of Jake’s lap.

“Shay are you kidding me?” Zack rolled his eyes and pointed to the door. “The show is starting soon and Jenna wants you guys up at the stage to watch Tonight Alive perform.”
We had a bright red blush on our cheeks as we went up to the stage, I knew that they would be coming into the room but I didn’t know what I was thinking when I just hopped onto Jake like that. “I’m so sorry that happened.” I shook my head when we were standing at the side of the stage; Jenna and the rest of the band were in their group huddle.

“Its fine,” he wrapped one of his arms around my waist and leaned in toward my ear. “We always have later to pick up where we left off.” He only made me blush more; I wanted to continue things with him but the bands would kill me if I didn’t watch them perform tonight. But the night went by a lot faster than I thought it would, soon All Time Low was on the stage playing their last song and Jake was dragging me to their bus so I could show him what the after parties were like. The band was on the bus right after we were and the other bands came on as well, the booze was being poured and the music was on full blast. Jenna pulled me aside and we danced along to the songs, I tried to get Jake to come out but Alex had pulled him aside and they were talking.

“So how’s your date going so far?” Jenna asked as she handed me a bottle of beer.

“We made out in the dressing room earlier and we got caught by the entire band.” I laughed. “I don’t think that they really like him anymore.”

She looked at me with wide eyes and then Jake was walking over to me with a small smile. He wrapped his hand around my waist and he leaned down to my ear, “I think we should go outside to talk.” I waved to Jenna and we went outside. Jake’s smile faded and he licked his lips.

“So I think I need leave.” He frowned.

“Okay, it was really nice to see you again.” I smiled and pulled him into a hug but he seemed distant. “So when do you think we’ll get to go out again?”

“I don’t think we will.” He shook his head.

“Uh is this because of distance, because we can make this work.” I furrowed my brows.

“No, I just don’t think that we would make a good couple, at all.” He kept a serious face and handed me the VIP pass before walking out toward the gate, leaving me speechless. I just sat outside the bus for a while, trying to piece together what the hell just happened.

Notes