Good as Gone.

"They are there day in and day out, it is really obnoxious." Matt said annoyed, looking out the window down at the vultures standing on the sidewalk. "I'm sorry about that Devon."

"I guess it was to be expected as I am both dating and related to famous people now," I shrugged. My first encounter with the paparazzi threw me for a loop but I was fine now. I walked across the room and put a hand on Matt's shoulder, "Matt I am okay."

"Okay well the interview with AP is in like twenty minutes, but until then you guys have a choice between hair and makeup or go to wardrobe. Before you start complaining it is for the photo shoot that you guys thought would be cool." The boys hummed along and Matt put a lanyard around my neck so I had clearance to follow them around all day. Zack grabbed my hand and kissed my cheek as we walked down the hall, all following Matt. We enter a room with two older woman running around four different free standing clothing racks. Each of them were full of clothes with a couple pair of shoes underneath them.

"Jack and Rian, you two are with me." One of them began, she was taller than me but had long blonde hair and very fair features. "I am Hal and I will work with you."

"I am Meg and I will have Zack and Alex over here." The other girl said stepping forward. She was my height but fairly skinny with light brown hair. I let go of Zack's hand and shoved them both forward. I stood with Matt while the girls helped them pick out some outfits.

"So when does school start for you?" Matt asked.

"Next week is freshman orientation and a couple days after that I have try outs for the soccer team, then classes start the twenty third."

"Wow, sounds like you've got a lot on your plate. Are you going to keep working when school starts?"

"Yeah, I am talking to Neil, the owner, about managing the place for him so I wouldn't need to be there as much as I am. It would be just about the same amount of pay but less of a immediate work load. When I am there now I get drawing commissions, I help pan out simpler templates. I am opening and closing the shop everyday and balancing out the books, all on top of making the schedule." I talked as I watched Jack and Alex throwing something at each other.

"Wow, sounds like you don't really need school since you're all set there." Matt joked.

"Well I don't think that a management position at a privately owned tattoo parlor would looked too great on my resume." I laughed.

"Well what are you interested in doing as a career?" He asked, rolling his eyes turning his back to the boys.

"Music business/management, like what you do. I have never been a home body, I love to keep moving and be busy, hence me working while at school and doing sports. Plus as much as I love the guy's music genre I like to listen to pretty much everything, it just depends what mood I am in."

"Really Devon? I had no idea, that's amazing." He talked about to aspects about the business for a bit before he rounded up the boys and we headed to the interview. Alex stole me from Zack for the walk there by putting his arm around my shoulders and pulling me into him. I smiled, leaning my head on his chest and putting my arms around him. We didn't say anything but was comforting just by being with him. I looked over at my boyfriend as he laughed out loud and his eyes wrinkled at the corners. I smiled to myself thinking how much I really wanted to spend the rest of my life with this man.

"You're blushing you know," Alex whispered in my ear. "Its okay, it is cute. I am happy for you Devon. I want you to have everything, you deserve it." He rubbed my shoulder reassuring me. I didn't say anything I just smiled and rested my head on his shoulder. The group of us walked through the building with Matt constantly telling Jack to stop talking so loud. We finally reached a room of mostly windows where there was five chairs set up in front of a camera in the corner of the room.

A man that looked about the same age as Matt approached us. "Hey Matt!"

"Hey Austin, are you ready for them?" Matt's voice was suddenly tense and it made me nervous.

"Yeah I gotta track down Angela, she is doing the interview. You boys can go sit in the four stools to the right." He yelled as he turned to the boys. I detached from Alex and waved them off as I retreated into Matt's shadow. He seemed less than thrilled to be here right now, so it was very out of character for him to be anything other than relaxed.

"I have to make a call, I don't need to worry about you getting in trouble do I?" His face was white as a ghost when he turned towards me, I nodded and let him go. I stood there watching some assistants fix each of the boys hair and fussing with their clothes. They were compliant but held agitated expressions which made me laugh.

"So what did you do to land Alex?" Austin questioned as he reappeared at my side. He was taller than me by a lot with short brown hair. I craned my neck and took a step away from him to be able to make eye contact.

"I don't follow," I pleaded.

"Well you have a VIP pass which means you are attached to someone in the band, or that is usually how they do it. Most girls aren't too attached though, are you?" He said as he took a step towards me. I immediately put a hand up and stepped back again.

"I'm not with Alex, and frankly it isn't your business either way." My attitude ever present.

"Let's do the interview," Matt's words cut through the air and Austin immediately retreated to his spot behind the camera and next to the computers. "I prayed that he wouldn't be here today." Matt sighed as we sat down to watch the interview.

"He definitely isn't anyone's favorite." I joked. I respected Matt a lot and didn't want to pry into his personal life. The boys were pretty funny when joking around in the interview. They talked about how they all met and their life in high school, this trailing back to the mention of me multiple times. They praised me like I wasn't sitting there watching them.

"You know that they never stop talking about you," Matt whispered.

"Of course they don't," I laughed shaking my head.

"You are the reason they are here Devon and they definitely aren't taking it lightly. Did they tell you they asked if I could hire you as a stage hand or a guitar tech? Sometimes they want to run ideas passed you before they do anything, and don't even get me started on how quickly Zack opens up when he talks about you. That boy is quiet but when it comes to you, he cannot stop talking. Its good though, sometimes I worry about him being so quiet." I went to respond but the boys finished their interview so our conversation was done.

"You guys like hearing yourselves talk or something?" Austin said in a harsh tone. "You're almost ten minutes over the time."

"You guys did great, it was hilarious." Matt praised, clapping his hands as he ignored Austin. I laughed along with the guys. "Now lets go do this photo shoot before you manage to ruin those outfits."

The boys were buffed to perfection when they made it to makeup. They would never live this down if they complained about me doing my makeup. They stood as individuals and then as a group. Multiple poses and hundreds of shots later they were finished and went to get their other clothes back on. Matt led us to our final destination around four in the afternoon, which was a board room. While most people envision suits and shit in this setting, it was quite the opposite. A fair amount of the people in the room had sleeves of tattoos and wore jeans and t-shirts. Matt had already told me earlier that I could sit in and listen as a learning experience but I declined on the grounds that I was too involved with them to intrude on a professional level. He understood, saying that it was going to be a longer meeting anyway then told me basic directions to a pizza place nearby. I thanked him on the grounds that it was late and I hadn't had lunch, on top of the fact that I was nearly ready for bed due to the jet lag.

"Meet you there, love you." I wished the boys goodbye for the moment, kissing Zack before they walked in and I turned the other way. I took my time walking through the building and was thrilled to be in an actual record company. I found my way back to the foyer and stopped to the reception desk to turn in my lanyard but she told me that I get to keep it. "Thank you, have a good day!" I turned and put it around my neck again and walked outside, cursing myself immediately for not thinking to walk out the back.

"OVER HERE!" Some guy yelled as camera flashes covered me head to toe.

"HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL TIME LOW?!"

"ARE YOU DATING ONE OF THEM?"

"ARE YOU A NEW ARTIST?"

"WHO ARE YOU?" The question they wanted to know so desperately, shouted in my face multiple times. I used my hand and my hair to shield my face and walked a little faster. The questions were desperate and demanding. I was once again flustered as I ran across the street to get away from them. I shook of my nerves and walked into the pizza place where the hostess showed me to a table big enough for all of us. Soon a waiter came to the table and asked what I wanted to drink. I pulled out my fake ID and ordered a beer, a salad and some chicken wings. I pulled out my work for the shop and passed the time, eating my fill as I waited for the boys.

I sat crisscrossed on my legs in the booth with my papers spread out all over, as I finished doing the order for inventory and called the distributor. It was a short phone call as the woman on the other end simply took down what we needed and how much. I called the shop and told Nick I put the order in and that there was a check already written out for the total in the office. He asked me how I was doing, we talked for a little after that. When we hung up I texted Neil hoping all was well with the legal stuff. I called Adam and he has been really busy between working and trying to undertake his mother's events. I called Nick back and asked how long his sister was going to be in town so I could put her on the schedule. I hung up and filled her in working the next two weeks. I called a couple other shops for Neil and we talked about if we were interested in doing a benefit event for the area. I got two shops to agree on the grounds that it would help get their name out there and help them grow. I was on the phone with Thomas, who owned a shop on Broadway, when the boys walked in. I silently waved them over and motioned for them to stay quiet. Thomas wanted to talk in person and I told him we could meet up as soon as I got back in town.

"Thank you Thomas, I will see you when I get back!-- I look forward to meeting you as well! Have a good day, bye." I sighed as I turned to the boys when the call ended. I picked up my papers and neatly put them all back in a folder, shoving both my notebook and folder back into my bag.

"I thought this was supposed to be a vacation," Alex started, filling the silence making us laugh.

"I never really am not working," I shrugged. "It is what it is. How was the meeting?"

"Boring," Jack blurted out. The waiter came back and took down the order for all of us. Two large pizzas, two pitchers of soda and fifty chicken wings. I ordered my fourth beer when Matt ordered his first.

"I am not supportive of this you know," Matt tutted disapprovingly at my underage drinking.

"I don't know what you re talking about, I am twenty-two." I laughed as did the guys. "Plus when we do what we do it doesn't matter how old you are, at the end of the day a cold beer is needed." Matt shook his head but agreed. We laughed and relaxed as we waited for the food. The boys volume increased immediately when Monday night football came on one of the TVs. I chatted with Matt as they raved about the sport.

We boxed up the leftovers and I paid for my food separate, "Whoa Devon. High roller are we, where did you get an envelope of cash like that?" Rian blurted out as I went to pay for my food. I cursed myself for not putting it away in my wallet or putting some in the bank before I left. It was the money from Fletcher's sales Saturday night when I performed. Between the bet I made with the crowd and ticket sales it ended up being close to eight hundred dollars.

"I cashed my paychecks from the shop before my flight took off, I had a couple saved up so I figured it would be nice to use it as spending money while I was here. Plus that night when all of you called, John asked me for some help as a stage hand and guitar tech for some group at Fletcher's." I shrugged it off hoping they would drop the subject.

"Oh sweet, did you meet that hot singer? You should get her number for me," Alex murmured with a mouth half full of pizza. I laughed a little too obviously, "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing Lex, nothing at all." I smiled innocently. We thanked our waiter and all walked out. Zack was in front of me on the side walk. I pulled my bag across my chest and over my head, making sure it wouldn't fall, then I jumped onto his back.

"What do think about date night?" He whispered.

"I think that it a great idea," I cooed and leaned into him, kissing his neck. I hopped off his back and stepped out to hail a cab so we could get back to the room.

"Ready for bed already Devon?" Jack asked.

"Not exactly, I have a hot date." I joked.

"Oh jeez, one on the east, one on the west. Sounds like we have a hustler on our hands." Alex teased.

"Very funny, don't make plans tomorrow night Alexander!" I shouted as I climbed into the cab, Zack immediately behind me.

"So anything planned for this date night?" I asked once we told the driver the directions to our hotel.

"I kind of just wanted to order chinese food and maybe walk to the beach?"

"I love that idea," I smiled and leaned in to kiss him. The drive we hell due to LA traffic but we got back to the hotel and called Alex to let him know our plans.

Okay sis, we are doing to to a local club. Have fun be safe, we might stop in to get money and a change of clothes around eight. You guys should come out with us if you get bored. Bye.

He hung up without another word, "Well okay then." I showered quickly and came out in just my towel to see Zack sitting on the bed shirtless wearing cargo shorts.

"I just called to order food, they said it will be here in about forty minutes."

"Oh my god, why that long of a wait?" I said shocked.

"Actually its not that long of a wait, we ordered it once and it was over an hour and a half." He shrugged. I walked over to him and straddled him, still holding my towel to my body. His hands found their way to my waist, one continued up and cradled my face. I looked into his delicate eyes while a heated blush rested on my cheeks. His lips met mine in a gentle passion. The passion in me growing when the kiss lingered, with just Zack's hot breath rolling over my face after we pulled apart. The hand on my waist pulled on my body, bringing my chest closer to him. We kissed again, this time with more urgency. I let my hands drop my towel and flung them around his neck. Carelessly, we let our passion take over each of us as our teeth clashed together. We broke apart again and I started to rock my hips back and forth. Zack moaned against my skin and peppered messy kisses down my neck using his teeth, he bit down lightly on my collar bone which made me gasp. He continued making his mark on my chest as he lifted me into his arms with ease. I tightened my legs around his waist and pulled on his neck causing our mouths to collide once again without detaching as we collapsed on the bed. We were taken over by our own ecstasy and made up for our time apart.

I fell back down onto my side of the bed as we broke apart from each other for the third time, both of us covered in a thin layer of sweat. "Wow," I breathed as my heartbeat struggled to slow. I reached over for my bottle of water on my side table and took a couple chugs before I handed it to Zack who emptied it.

"You could say that again, and again, and again-" I cut him of by laughing as he teased me.

"Very funny," I said as I rolled into him resting my hand on his chest and my head on his bicep. I closed my eyes and relaxed. Suddenly we heard the door open followed by the voices of Matt, Vinny, Alex, Jack and Rian. We quickly pulled the sheet over our bodies and continued to let ourselves fall asleep rather than deal with the comments we were going to get if we joined the guys in the living room. I cursed myself remembering that our delivery should get here any minute. I kissed Zack and hopped out of bed, grabbing a large sweatshirt of Zack's and some cheeky underwear. I grabbed my wallet and pulled my hair up as I left our bedroom. I met the boys in the kitchen and immediately Alex started slow clapping, making me blush.

"That is a pretty cute walk of shame," he laughed.

"I've got no shame Lex. Not from the first, second or the third time-" I snapped.

"Okay, too much information. La-la-la-la-la." He shook his head and plugged his ears from any more damage. I shrugged my shoulders as if to say 'you started it'.

"More tail than any of you are getting." I teased.

"So does this mean if I get a girlfriend she will follow me around the US just so I can get laid?" Jack questioned.

"There are so many things wrong with that statement Jacky," I shook my head at how naive he actually was sometimes.

"Whoa, you're not wearing pants," Vinny stuttered as he rounded the corner, nearly knocking into me. He and Matt both immediately averted their eyes away from me entirely.

"Good observation Vin," I laughed as I patted his shoulder and walked towards the door. I thanked the delivery guy and brought my food back to the kitchen.

"You know your going to have to get used to that especially when we bring her on tour in the summer." Jack said as he entered the small kitchen as well. My jaw just about hit the floor as I stopped in my tracks.

"Not that I am not okay with it, but this is news to me. When was I going to find out about this?" I turned to him and then shot a look at Matt. I quickly looked in the bag to check for chopsticks before picking the bag back up and headed to Zack's bedroom.

"We might be arranging things to do after tour other than sit at home and write songs." Alex admitted sheepishly.

I shook my head and pointed a harsh finger around the room, "This is not over." I opened and closed the bedroom door, sighing to myself once there was a moment of silence. I opened to my eyes to find Zack still in bed but this time wearing boxers.

"That bad eh?" He questioned, referencing the rowdy boys on the other side of the door.

"Not exactly, I am just starving." I ran over and hopped on the bed in front of him. I set the food on the floor and climbed on top of him. I wrapped my hands around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss. I smiled when we broke apart and his hand came up to caress my face, a smile creeping across his face as well.

"I love you," he whispered just as delicately as he kissed me after. "I am so glad you were able to come out. I was actually debating going awol just to see you for a day or two." I laughed as we climbed out of bed and pulled a table in front of the sliding glass door. We unloaded our food and sat in the armchair together. We picked up what we ordered and ate from the others food as well. I laughed harder than I had in weeks when we sat there half naked, watching the sunset eating dinner. After we finished eating and were nearly bursting at the seams, I sat there in Zack's arms without a care in the world.

Zack and I decided to not go out that night, instead we stayed in the room and it couldn't have been better. Whether we were watching a movie or just goofing around I couldn't have been happier. I really liked my independence but I did not like being alone. As of right now we were on the couch playing Halo and I was kicking ass. We were in an all out battle.

"You guys do realize it is three in the morning, right?" Alex slurred. Startled I paused the game and we turned to look at the guys who returned. They were pretty drunk to say the least.

"Lil-Dee!" Jack shouted before he pushed past Alex and ran towards Zack and I on the couch. I braced for impact as the disproportionate boy stumbled into my lap. I reached up to stroke his hair as he curled up in a ball.

"My little Bara-kitty." I laughed. "Lets get you to bed Jack," I nudged, not wanting him to fall asleep in my lap. Matt soon came in behind Rian and ran over to help my with Jack.

"Thanks," I whispered to Matt.

"Well usually this is my job without any help, so its the least I can do."

"Same here, lots of parties in high school ended ended exactly like this." I huffed as I tried to readjust Jack's weight. We managed to get him to bed and I quickly fell into my old routine, getting both him and Alex glasses of water and a solid dose of medication for when they woke up hungover.

"Thanks sis," Alex whispered as he came up behind me. I turned around to face him and hugged him tightly. "I am really happy that you're happy with Zack, you know that right?" He stumbled over his words, the alcohol making him spill his feelings. "Do you think I will ever find someone like that?" He asked me with eager eyes. We both sat down on the edge of his bed and I took one of his hands into mine.

"I think that you shouldn't think about it. If you are meant to be with someone you won't need to find them, you both will find each other. Zack and I met at chance, hell he wasn't even supposed to be at work that night. Look, we both know you weren't the best guy in high school but that doesn't mean you're incapable of change. When the right girl comes along you won't need to try to change for her, it will come naturally and you probably won't realize its happening. We can talk more tomorrow Lex, get some sleep." I stood up and kissed the top of his head.

"I just miss having someone to miss," he trailed. "Good night Dev, I love you."

"I love you too Alex." With that I left the room, closing the door behind me. I made my way back to the small kitchen to find Zack sitting at the island with Rian cooking something, probably to prevent a hangover in the morning. I wrapped my arms around Zack from behind and rested my head in between his shoulder blades. I got lost in my thoughts for a moment, my mind catching on the comment from Cassadee's cousin the other night, referring to a fight between her and Rian. "So Rian, how is everything with Cass?"

"Its okay, just hard adjusting to the distance and all." His voice was almost sharp, surprisingly so because he was normally the most laid back one. I dropped the subject and looked at Zack with a shrug and a concerned look. I walked to the other side of the counter and made him face me before I brought him into a tight hug. "I'm sure it will work out Ry," I whispered, rubbing his back reassuringly. I kissed his cheek and gave him a light smile before I dragged Zack to bed. We chose a random romantic comedy and just as we settled down my phone began to ring. I stepped out onto the balcony when I accepted the call from John.

"John what's up, it is three thirty here and five thirty in the morning there. Why are you calling?!" I said shocked as I did the math of the time difference.

Devon, you aren't going to believe this. There was a rep from Fueled by Ramen that came to check out Miss Nothing and they managed to stick around to catch your set. They want to meet you Devon.

"What are you serious?" My mind started panicking in every direction possible. "I am just about to start school. I have enough pressure there, not to mention the shop I'm managing. I am going to school to run these events, not be the event."

Listen Dev, I know you're not aiming for a life in the lights but I am just saying that Fueled by Ramen is one of the biggest labels out there right now and this would be an amazing opportunity. The rep gave me her number to contact if you were interested, I am just saying that it would be a good idea to just sit down with them and see what they have to offer.

"Thanks John, maybe I could figure something out once I get back. The boys don't know that it was me. No one that wasn't there backstage that night knows that I was Danni Black. Hell the guys are even talking about her, slash me, because I guess some guys from high school were there and told them about me. It was fun and maybe it could be an opportunity to think about."

That is all I am asking Dev, just think about it. Sorry about the late call I am just absolutely freaking out.

I laughed because had the rolls been reversed I would have the same reaction. "Thanks for everything, really. I will call you when I get home, good night John." I sighed and hung up, walking back inside away from the heat.

"What was that about?" Zack asked as he sat on the edge of the bed, looking at me expectantly. My gut dropped and my throat began to close in on itself.

"Z-Zack I-I can explain-" I rambled, falling over my words as fast as they left my mouth.

"I know plenty of things that no one else knows Dev, you could have told me." He said flatly. I sat down on the bed next to him and hung my head. There was a moment of silence between us until he sighed and put his arm around me. "Its okay babe. I am not mad, I am just crazy proud."

My head snapped up and I looked at him. A smile that made my heart warm and cozy was plastered on his face from ear to ear. "Really?"

"Well duh you idiot. I am only mad because I couldn't be there to see you at your best. Plus the accent you pulled was pretty cute." He said as he pulled me into his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss.

"Was this the fore-mentioned accent?" I mocked, pulling out my English roots once again. His face wrinkled up into another grin right before he stood up off the bed, keeping me tight in his arms.

"You will be the death of me Devon Scarlett."

"And you are my saving grace Zackary Steven." We laughed and kissed again before he set me down on the floor and we crawled in bed for the last time. This time we actually slept.

Notes

I GOT ACCEPTED INTO BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC