It was quiet for a couple of seconds before Alex leaned into his mic and tries to relieve the tension. “Well you guys were fucking amazing. This is our last song; it’s about a little lady named Maria.”

The band went into their last song of the set and the energy in the crowd was slowly building, but not even close to where it was two minutes ago. The song was played flawlessly, but Jack wasn’t jumping around stage or going into the crowd, Alex didn’t have that grin he usually wore during the whole set, Zack didn’t budge from his spot or jump into the air like normal. The energy in the whole place was completely off and everyone felt the tension. As soon as the song ended, Zack threw his pick haphazardly into the crowd and practically sprinted off stage.

“You guys fucking rocked! We love you, motherfuckers!! We’re All Time Low!!” Alex thanked the crowd.

“I’m giving handjobs to all you sexy beasts behind the venue!!” Jack yelled and then ran off the stage.

Rian walked up to the front of the stage, and threw his drumsticks into the crowd. Then he and Alex threw the picks into the crowd too, and handed the setlists to kids in the crowd. Alex was totally out of it, mindlessly going through the motions of the routine after every show. He helped the crew wind up wires, disassemble the drum kit, put away guitars, and help wheel boxes to the door. He bumped into at least six different people, not watching where he was going and tripped over things lying around several times.

He wasn’t really paying attention; he was focusing on what the fuck just happened on stage. Zack blew up at him again. That’s the second time in the last twelve hours. That’s more in one day than in the entire time that Alex has known Zack. Alex was starting to wonder if he did something wrong. What the hell did he do to piss off Zack so much? He moved Zack’s skateboard so Matt wouldn’t complain about the bus being a pig sty. He thought he was helping out his friend. Moving a skateboard wouldn’t usually make Zack so upset that he’d still be angry about it hours later, so Alex must’ve done something else, but he had no fucking clue what it was. He thought everyone was happy; he and Jack are back to normal. Cassadee gets to stay on the bus. Flyzik has gotten over Jess. Maybe Zack was getting all bitchy because he didn’t have a girlfriend. But the only guys on tour with girlfriends were Colussy, Evan, and Rian. That’s only three out of thirteen guys on the bus, so that probably wasn’t it.

“Hey, we got it here. Go get some rest or something; you look pretty out of it.” Danny told Alex, noticing the singer was completely in his own little world, getting in the way more than actually helping.

“Really? I guess I’m pretty wiped, I’m gonna call it a night.” Alex said as he pat his guitar tech on the back as he headed out towards the bus. Alex got to outside the venue, just in time to see Zack stomping onto the bus, leaving fans outside the bus really confused and sad that he hadn’t taken time to talk. He spotted his Lebanese friend surrounded by fans, but Alex could read Jack like a book. Jack was sad and angry at the same time, but put on his fake smile for the fans trying to all take pictures with him. But Jack’s eyes kept flickering to the bus door, and before Alex could do anything else, he too was approached by several fans.

Alex was really confused, too preoccupied to want to take pictures and talk for a little, but he did anyway. He did it for the kids who waited outside for him just to take a simple picture. Alex didn’t want to let down the sole people who make his career possible, so he endured what seemed like endless pictures. When Alex finished talking to a blue-haired girl, he looked up to find Jack gone. Alex took pictures with the last person, and then walked onto the bus, trying to figure out what the hell was going on with his fellow band members.

Alex tried to be very quiet with the hopes that he would be able to go unnoticed and eavesdrop on whatever conversation was going on. When he walked into the front lounge he heard someone slam against a wall, Alex quickly looked into the bunk area to find Jack holding Zack against the wall. Alex hid from the view and listened to what the two were saying.

After Jack finally was able to sneak away from the fans he went straight into the bus. What was up with Zack? It was so unlike him that it was starting to scare Jack. Zack is supposed to be the really awkward, quiet guy who’s the sweet one when you get to know him. Not the pissy, angry buff guy that he sometimes looked. This whole new ‘I’m going to yell at all my friends and throw a total fit and make everyone feel uncomfortable at a show’ attitude was just really starting to make Jack concerned and mad.

Jack walked onto the bus that looked deserted, but he knew that the bass player had to be on the bus somewhere. Jack stomped toward the bunk area and saw that Zack’s bunk curtain was pulled shut and moving slightly.

“Zack? Are you ok?” Jack asked in a concerned tone, which was completely genuine.

Jack got a grumble in response, and that kind of pissed him off. Dammit he was trying to help, Zack didn’t have to be a bitch about it. “Just go away. You should be somewhere with Alex anyway,” Zack sounded really pissed off, but Jack wasn’t going anywhere.

“What the fuck are you talking about? Just come out so we can talk like normal humans.” Jack tried to keep his cool, but it was slowly fading. If Zack was just going to be in a pissy mood, why should Jack even help. But he stayed because that’s what best friends do. And after all Jack made Zack put up with in the last two weeks, he owed his friend enough to at least figure out what was wrong.

“Now I’m not a normal human? That’s perfect. Just fuck off.” Zack sounded really offended and Jack felt bad that he said it. But dammit Zack deserved it for being so bitchy.

Jack decided the only thing he could do to have a normal conversation with Zack was to force him. He pulled back the bunk curtain to find Zack curled up, facing the wall. Jack put his hand on the older man’s shoulder and tried to roll him over. That didn’t work. Zack groaned in annoyance and Jack groaned in frustration.

“Zack! Just talk to me.” Jack raised his voice, but Zack just pulled blankets over his head. Zack just wanted Jack to leave him to be annoyed in peace, but Jack wasn’t going to give up. Jack lowered his voice and leaned in closer to the bunk, “Zack, please? I’m worried about you. Can we just talk?”

Zack sat up and climbed out of his bunk, making Jack happy that now maybe he’d be able to figure out what’s been going on. But when Zack stood up fully he tried to walk right past Jack. “Wait, I thought we were going to talk.” Jack said, very confused.

“You decided that, I’m just trying to take a piss.” Zack tried pushing past Jack, but the taller man stopped him.

“Talk to me.” Jack looked into Zack’s eyes and saw something he didn’t notice before. They were red and watery, like they were on the verge of tears or already shed a few, and that’s what made Jack’s heart drop into the pit of his stomach. Jack was hurt because Zack was hurt and whatever was happening between the members needed to be fixed before more tears were shed. “Zack, please.” Jack pleaded sounding like he was going to cry as well.

Zack turned his head so he wasn’t looking at Jack and muttered something that Jack could barely hear, “Why do you care? You should be with Alex anyway.”

Zack tried to push past Jack once again but was pushed against the wall of bunks by Jack. “Stop trying to run away!” Jack growled as he pushed Zack with all his strength. “That’s all you’ve been doing all day and I’m sick of it! You’ve been so moody and angry lately. Whenever someone tries to talk to you, you just ignore them. We’re a team and a family and you need to start acting like you’re part of it again. What happened to the Zack that I was really starting to get to know? Tonight’s show was one of the best we’ve had in a while, but it was ruined because you got angry and yelled at Alex. Again! What the fuck did ‘Lex do that made you so angry that you can’t let it go?!”

Zack felt all of the emotions he’s been holding in during the past weeks bubble over and without thinking he blurted out, “Because Alex is the one who took you away from me!”