Latest Nostalgia
Five
“Presley, calm down!” Bailey exclaimed, trying to follow me as I ran around my house, picking up assorted items and throwing them into my bag as I went.
J
ack and the band were coming home today, and they were all going to eat at their favorite place in Baltimore once everyone had gotten settled in. Jack had invited me weeks ago, and naturally I had said yes, so now I was running around like a mad woman. My nerves were getting the best of me. Seeing Jack for the first time since he’s been in town for his show would be great, but that wasn’t what was worrying me. I was anxious about how our friendship would be affected with him being home for an extended period of time. I couldn’t help but wonder if we would actually hang out all the time as he had said we would, or if he would simply blow me off now that I was certain he had a girl he was at least interested in, if not dating. I looked at myself in the mirror, biting my lower lip as I tried to calm my nerves. Things would play out as they were supposed to, and I just had to keep telling myself that.
“You look great,” Bailey said, appearing behind me in the mirror with a roll of her eyes. “Now go! Or you’re going to be late.”
“Shit, you’re right,” I muttered, checking the time. “Okay, thank you!”
“Go get em tiger,” she winked and slapped my ass as we walked out of my house.
“Shut up,” I laughed.
I texted Jack, notifying him that I was about to walk in, and quickly received a reply.
Great! Can’t wait to see you, tell the hostess you’re with ‘Gaskarth.’ I have someone for you to meet!
My heart sank a little, guessing that a bubbly blonde would be waiting at Jack’s side.
“Elvis!” Alex sang, running up and hugging me. He picked me off the floor and spun me around, and I rolled my eyes. Secretly I was happy to get such a warm welcome.
“What up, Hadley!” Rian said, also giving me a hug, though his was a bit less dramatic and warmer. I also got hugs from Flyzik, Colussy, and Zack, who shyly said my name before wrapping his muscular arms around my neck and pretending to choke me out.
“Where’s Jack?” I asked, trying to be casual as I ran my hands through my ruffled hair, thanks to Zack.
“Oh, they’re coming, he had to stop by his place first,” Alex said, his attention suddenly back on his menu. After a few minutes, Rian pointed toward the entrance, causing all of us to turn. I looked back down at my menu for a second to calm my hormones. Tour must have done him well, because Jack looked great.
So did the girl on his arm. They stopped a few feet short of the table, Jack smiling widely at me.
“Elvis!” he cried, and I stood to hug him. He wrapped his arms dramatically around me, “I’m never letting you go.” We both laughed before he finally did let me go, and I stepped back and looked expectantly at him, waiting for the introduction.
“Presley, this is my girlfriend Holly. Holly, this is the coolest friend girl I’ve ever had, Presley,” he smiled widely at us, as though he expected us to be best friends. She smiled at me, though I would be the only one at the table who could notice the falseness of her smile and the evaluating look she gave me before we took our seats. I was shaking a little bit, and I willed my nerves to calm before I exploded with anxiousness.
Lunch went really well, everyone laughing and joking around, everyone exchanging tour stories and filling Holly and I in on things we had missed. I had become somewhat a part of the All Time Low family just through my Skype calls with Jack, usually always being passed around the drunk tour bus and talking to every one of the band and crew members before making my way back to Jack. I loved the boys, and I was really hoping that I would be an even bigger part of their family now that they were home for a while.
After lunch, we all walked out onto the sidewalk, giving hugs and saying goodbyes. I exchanged numbers with everyone so that we could make plans to hang out, and soon I was left on the sidewalk with just Jack and Holly.
“So, what are you doing now, Pres?” Jack asked, smiling brightly.
“Oh, we should probably unpack, don’t you think?” Holly asked, feigning sincerity and apprehension.
“Uh, yeah, I guess you’re right,” he frowned for a short moment, but then quickly smiled again.
“When we’re all settled in, I’ll text you and we can do something! I’m so excited we can actually hang out!”
“Sounds good,” I smiled at them both. “It was really nice to meet you,” I said to Holly, gritting my teeth afterward.
“You too!” she squealed, giving me a quick hug. “I’m so excited to meet all of Jacky’s friends. We’ll let you know when we’re free to do something,” she smiled, beginning to tug Jack away toward their vehicle.
“Okay, sounds good, see you guys,” I smiled, turning and walking in the opposite direction. I managed to get all the way home before a mild panic set in.
Jack was home. He had a girlfriend. She didn’t like me, or my and Jack’s friendship.
My heart ached; I knew Holly was going to become a wedge between Jack and I. Plus, Holly hadn’t actually done anything yet, and I really didn’t want to seem like that jealous friend, so there was nothing I could really do. At least until she actually did do something. I just hoped Jack wouldn’t pick his girlfriend over his friends.
J
ack and the band were coming home today, and they were all going to eat at their favorite place in Baltimore once everyone had gotten settled in. Jack had invited me weeks ago, and naturally I had said yes, so now I was running around like a mad woman. My nerves were getting the best of me. Seeing Jack for the first time since he’s been in town for his show would be great, but that wasn’t what was worrying me. I was anxious about how our friendship would be affected with him being home for an extended period of time. I couldn’t help but wonder if we would actually hang out all the time as he had said we would, or if he would simply blow me off now that I was certain he had a girl he was at least interested in, if not dating. I looked at myself in the mirror, biting my lower lip as I tried to calm my nerves. Things would play out as they were supposed to, and I just had to keep telling myself that.
“You look great,” Bailey said, appearing behind me in the mirror with a roll of her eyes. “Now go! Or you’re going to be late.”
“Shit, you’re right,” I muttered, checking the time. “Okay, thank you!”
“Go get em tiger,” she winked and slapped my ass as we walked out of my house.
“Shut up,” I laughed.
I texted Jack, notifying him that I was about to walk in, and quickly received a reply.
Great! Can’t wait to see you, tell the hostess you’re with ‘Gaskarth.’ I have someone for you to meet!
My heart sank a little, guessing that a bubbly blonde would be waiting at Jack’s side.
“Elvis!” Alex sang, running up and hugging me. He picked me off the floor and spun me around, and I rolled my eyes. Secretly I was happy to get such a warm welcome.
“What up, Hadley!” Rian said, also giving me a hug, though his was a bit less dramatic and warmer. I also got hugs from Flyzik, Colussy, and Zack, who shyly said my name before wrapping his muscular arms around my neck and pretending to choke me out.
“Where’s Jack?” I asked, trying to be casual as I ran my hands through my ruffled hair, thanks to Zack.
“Oh, they’re coming, he had to stop by his place first,” Alex said, his attention suddenly back on his menu. After a few minutes, Rian pointed toward the entrance, causing all of us to turn. I looked back down at my menu for a second to calm my hormones. Tour must have done him well, because Jack looked great.
So did the girl on his arm. They stopped a few feet short of the table, Jack smiling widely at me.
“Elvis!” he cried, and I stood to hug him. He wrapped his arms dramatically around me, “I’m never letting you go.” We both laughed before he finally did let me go, and I stepped back and looked expectantly at him, waiting for the introduction.
“Presley, this is my girlfriend Holly. Holly, this is the coolest friend girl I’ve ever had, Presley,” he smiled widely at us, as though he expected us to be best friends. She smiled at me, though I would be the only one at the table who could notice the falseness of her smile and the evaluating look she gave me before we took our seats. I was shaking a little bit, and I willed my nerves to calm before I exploded with anxiousness.
Lunch went really well, everyone laughing and joking around, everyone exchanging tour stories and filling Holly and I in on things we had missed. I had become somewhat a part of the All Time Low family just through my Skype calls with Jack, usually always being passed around the drunk tour bus and talking to every one of the band and crew members before making my way back to Jack. I loved the boys, and I was really hoping that I would be an even bigger part of their family now that they were home for a while.
After lunch, we all walked out onto the sidewalk, giving hugs and saying goodbyes. I exchanged numbers with everyone so that we could make plans to hang out, and soon I was left on the sidewalk with just Jack and Holly.
“So, what are you doing now, Pres?” Jack asked, smiling brightly.
“Oh, we should probably unpack, don’t you think?” Holly asked, feigning sincerity and apprehension.
“Uh, yeah, I guess you’re right,” he frowned for a short moment, but then quickly smiled again.
“When we’re all settled in, I’ll text you and we can do something! I’m so excited we can actually hang out!”
“Sounds good,” I smiled at them both. “It was really nice to meet you,” I said to Holly, gritting my teeth afterward.
“You too!” she squealed, giving me a quick hug. “I’m so excited to meet all of Jacky’s friends. We’ll let you know when we’re free to do something,” she smiled, beginning to tug Jack away toward their vehicle.
“Okay, sounds good, see you guys,” I smiled, turning and walking in the opposite direction. I managed to get all the way home before a mild panic set in.
Jack was home. He had a girlfriend. She didn’t like me, or my and Jack’s friendship.
My heart ached; I knew Holly was going to become a wedge between Jack and I. Plus, Holly hadn’t actually done anything yet, and I really didn’t want to seem like that jealous friend, so there was nothing I could really do. At least until she actually did do something. I just hoped Jack wouldn’t pick his girlfriend over his friends.
9/5/13