Something's Gotta Give

In the true fashion of winter in Baltimore, snow was falling heavily from the sky as the wind blew from God knows where. My arms wrapped tightly around my waist, my jackets never seem to keep me warm, as I quickly unlocked my shop and walked inside to escape the cold. Last night was surprisingly fun. I spent time with Jack and Alex and it wasn’t awkward or weird. A small smile spread across my face as I walked up to my office and inside. At eleven today, Alex is coming to pick me up and we are going to stuff our faces with greasy food, then we are going to go and watch a movie, after that, it’s all video games. My eyes wandered over to the camera screen and I saw Shiloh walk in. Might as well turn on all the lights.

“Hey Kate! Where’s the lights?” I heard from down stairs. I chuckled before turning on the lights and leaving my office. When I got downstairs, Shiloh was behind the register, starting it up.

“So, how would you like to be boss lady today?” I asked.

“Wait, seriously?” She stopped what she was doing and gave me wide eyes.

“Seriously. I’m going to hang with Alex and Jack today and I need someone to watch over the shop. And if you need anything at all, call Kyle or Jared, they are always willing to help,” I smiled as I pulled myself up to sit on the counter.

“Oh my gosh Kate. Thank you so much. Maybe after today you’ll consider making me manager and hiring Jared or Kyle to work the register so you don’t always have to be coming in,” she smiled.

“I’d love to do that, but, I don’t really have the funds to hire a new person quite yet,” I sighed and she rolled her eyes.

“Kate, I’ve seen your budget reports, yes you do,” she told me and I looked at her.

“Okay fine, I like coming in every day, is there something wrong with that?” I asked.

“No, but you need some sort of break from the shit that is the music industry,” she put her hands on my shoulders and I sighed again.

“Shiloh, I don’t know. I’ll think about it,” I said and she smiled.

“That’s all I can ask for. So what are you, Alex, and Jack doing today?” She asked as she leaned against the counter.

“We are going to Big Matty’s then we’re going to see a movie, and to end the day, we are gonna play so many video games our brains will be fried tomorrow,” I smiled and she rolled her eyes. We sat there in silence for a minute or two before I heard the door open and close. Shiloh looked behind me and smiled.

“What’s happening Kyle?” She asked and I turned around to see him walking in.

“Nothing, I decided to come in and chill with you two today,” he smiled and I rolled my eyes. He climbed up onto the counter and had this big smile on his face.

“What are you so happy about?” I asked and he looked at me.

“I have a date with Ariana tonight,” he smirked bigger and I smacked his shoulder playfully.

“Oh my gosh, really? You’ve been trying to tap that for months!” I exclaimed and he laughed.

“I know, and I’m hoping I get that chance tonight,” he got this mischievous smile on his face.

“Kyle, do not fuck her on the first date. Have some sort of class,” Shiloh smacked him and he laughed.

“I was joking, chillax. No, but, I do have a question for you two,” he said.

“Shoot,” I said and he took a breath.

“Can you guys help me find something for us to do? Cause I have no ideas,” he said and I raised one of my eye brows.

“You need our help, two loner girls, to figure out what to do on your date tonight?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said.

“Well, you could go to Big Matty’s, or to a movie, or both?” Shiloh said.

“No! That is what Jack, Alex, and I are doing!” I exclaimed and she smirked.

“You’re hanging with those freaks again?” Kyle asked.

“Don’t even start with me Kyle, I will flip shit and you know it,” I told him and he held his hands up.

“Sorry, but they are the ones who left you alone in high school,” he said.

“Let’s not talk about high school Kyle,” I got serious quickly. He looked down at his hands and nodded.

“Good idea. So, you three are getting food, seeing a movie, and that’s it?” He asked.

“We’re also going to have a massive gaming party tonight and I’m gonna kick both of their asses at CoD,” I smiled.

“Sorry to say it, but Kate, you kinda suck at CoD,” Shiloh said.

“Fuck you,” I flipped her off and she held her hands up.

“I’m just letting you know, don’t bite my head off!” She exclaimed with a laugh and I rolled my eyes.



At around eleven, the store was buzzing with people. I didn’t even realize what time it was until I was suddenly poked in the sides by Alex. I had been stocking CDs and putting in orders all morning and the time just slipped past me. When I turned around to see Jack and Alex I almost screamed.

“Don’t do that!” I laughed and Alex shrugged.

“Are we ready to stuff our faces with greasy food?” Alex asked and I rolled my eyes.

“Sure?” I asked as I brought the box I had in my hands over to Kyle, who decided to work for free.

“Can you finish stocking this box and the three that are by the back door? And Shiloh, I need you to finish the orders. Oh and, and, and, we are going to be selling merch soon and I need you to print out the advertisements and hang them on the windows before you leave,” I smiled at her and she nodded.

“Yes ma’am,” she saluted to me and I gave her a look before turning to Alex and Jack.

“Let me go grab my bag and jacket, cause it’s cold as fuck outside,” I said before running upstairs and grabbing my stuff and running back down. Alex and Jack were standing at the counter talking to Shiloh while she helped other customers. How the customers haven’t noticed Alex freaking Gaskarth and Jack freaking Barakat, I have no idea. When I stopped walking in front of them, Alex put his arm around my shoulder and we walked out of the shop. As I looked back, Shiloh had a big smirk on her face. I rolled my eyes and looked back forward as we got to the car. Jack got in the drivers seat and I climbed in the backseat.

“So, how long has it been since you went to Big Matty’s?” I asked and Alex looked at me through the mirror.

“Too long,” he sighed and I laughed.

“I actually haven’t been there in like ten or eleven years,” I bit my lip and watched as Alex turned around in his seat really fast and looked at me with confused eyes.

“You’ve lived in Baltimore all your life and haven’t gone to our favorite restaurant in eleven fucking years?” He asked and I shrugged.

“I kinda stopped eating fast food around then,” I shrugged again and he shook his head.

“Well Kate, you are going to get to get addicted to the food again,” he turned back around.

“Let’s hope not,” I muttered to myself and looked at my hand. I stopped going to Big Matty’s when they left and around six months after they left I stopped eating all together. I felt the car stop and then Jack turned it off. We all climbed out of the car and walked into the building quickly. After being seated, I crossed my legs at my knees and put my hands under my leg. Alex and Jack sat across from me and both of them had smiles on their faces.

“What are you two smiling about?” I asked.

“No reason. So, tell us, how has life been?” Alex asked. I looked at him and sniffled.

“Well, you know about high school. But, since then, it’s been fine. I’ve redone my life and I’m happy with it,” I smiled and Alex nodded.

“I think it’s awesome you have your own shop. You used to talk about owning one all the time,” he said. I nodded and then looked at Jack, who was looking off into space.

“Barakat, you okay there?” I asked. He looked at me and blinked.

“What?” He asked.

“Dude, you were spacing out hard core,” I laughed and he shrugged.

“I’m tired,” he almost snapped. I furrowed my eye brows and gave him a look.

“What happened to the carefree Jack I used to know?” I asked.

“I’m just tired, jeez,” he snapped and I shook my head before looking back at Alex, who was shrugging.

“So, food. What kind of food are we eating?” He asked.

“I’m just getting a plate of fries. I at a shit ton this morning,” I said. Alex’s jaw dropped and he faked being hurt.

“But we’re supposed to eat so much greasy food that we feel sick. Fries aren’t that greasy,” he whined and I smirked.

“Well, I ate a lot for breakfast so I’m not that hungry. And remember, I haven’t eaten fast food in like eleven years. I don’t know how I’ll react to it. The fries might even make me sick,” I told him and he nodded.

“True. I don’t want you puking your guts all over my house while we play video games,” he laughed and I rolled my eyes. As we were laughing, a waitress walked up to the table. Immediately I recognized her, she used to be our waitress every time we came Big Matty’s as teenagers. She took one look at me and a big smile spread across her face.

“Kate Solo. It has been too long dear,” she smiled and held her arms out.

“I agree Deb,” I smiled as I stood and gave her a hug. When I let go, she looked over at Alex and Jack and it took her a second but she recognized them.

“Jack and Alex? Oh my gosh, you two have grown so much,” she smiled and patted Jack on the shoulder.

“Hey Deb,” Alex smiled and I sat back down.

“Alright, what can I get you three?” She asked.

“I want an Iced Tea with a nice plate of fries,” I smiled and she nodded.

“Any sauces with that?” She asked and I shook my head.

“Okay, Alex?”

“The monster burger and steak fries with a Mtn. Dew,” he told her and she wrote it down before looking at Jack.

“Not Your Nachos with a Dr. Pepper,” he told her and she nodded before walking away. I looked at Jack and he was looking down at his hands. I was looking forward to having a fun day, but Jack is making that really difficult.

Notes

And the third chapter is here for you. I was going to put the whole entire day in this chapter, but that would make it really long. So I'm splitting it into two chapters. I hope you're okay with it. Upcoming events include Kate beginning to feel self-conscious again after an eventful night with a certain member of ATL. The awkwardness between Kate and Jack is only going to get worse, especially after said night. So yes, look forward to that.

Peace <3