Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
Chapter One
Alex Gaskarth's POV
“Hey, babe. That was a great show!” I smiled, opening my arms to hug my girlfriend of the last six months, Lisa Ruocco, but she wrinkled her nose in disgust and stepped back. “No way.” She giggled. “You're all sweaty and gross.”
Smirking, I dropped my arms and headed towards the refreshments table. After having performed a ten song set, I was dying of thirst. I grabbed a bottle of water from the bucket filled with ice and quickly chugged it down.
I was just reaching for another bottle after having tossed the empty one in the nearby waste basket, when a voice from the past stopped me in my tracks. It was a voice I could never forget. A voice I never thought I would hear again.
“Wow, you're awfully thirsty, aren't you?” She giggled as I turned to face her. She was even more beautiful than I remember. Her hair was longer, falling down her back, and was no dark red. It was now blonde, and it looked great on her.
She was a lot shorter than I remembered, but a hell of a lot curvier than she had been when I'd last seen her. That was nearly five years ago. She flashed me a gleaming white smile, hidden the behind pouty pink lips that I used to kiss.
“What's wrong?” She giggled again, toying with a lock of her hair. “Cat got your tongue?” She teased, beaming at me. This was odd. When we'd parted ways all those years ago, she'd wanted nothing to do with me, yet here she was, acting as if nothing had happened between us.
“I-” Was all I could manage; I was at a complete loss of words. She giggled again, shaking her head. “Wha-what are you doing here?” I finally managed to find my voice. “I'm part of the tour.” She answered. If I had been drinking something, I surely would've choked on it.
“P-Part of the tour? Meaning, you'll be here...all summer?” I stammered pathetically. “Yes, Alex. I'll be here. All summer.” She smirked; I was glad to see her sarcastic nature hasn't changed. It was one of the things I loved about her.
I couldn't help but drag my eyes over her body, taking in her attire. She wore a gray, loose tank top and a pair of distressed denim shorts. I was happy to see she was still wearing her favorite pair of combat boots, that she wore all the time in high school.
“Did you not read the lineup?” She asked, catching my attention as my eyes snapped up to meet hers. She nodded her head in the list on the wall, showing the order in which the bands would be taking the stage while in this city.
Dragging my eyes down the list, I came across the name of a band I wasn't familiar with, right under my band's name. “Falling From Grace?” I read aloud, to which she nodded. “That's my band. You always did tell me I should be a singer.” She said with a wink.
I opened my mouth to speak, but clamped it shut when a tall, lanky guy threw his arm around her shoulders and smiled down at her. “We're up, Munroe.” She smiled up at him, nodding slightly. He removed his arm from her shoulders and headed over to grab a guitar from the tech.
“I'm sure I'll see you around, handsome.” She flashed me a quick smile. “Enjoy the show.” With a wink and another smile, she disappeared onto the stage, following after her bandmate. I was still in shock by the fact that she was even here.
“What's up, Brooklyn!?” She screamed, wrapping her slender fingers around the microphone and bringing it to her lips as the crowd screamed back in response. “We are Falling From Grace, and this is Rumors!”
With that, the band started up the music, and Mila began to sing. Her voice was amazing, and I couldn't help but think back to when she had sang with me in my room to Blink 182 when she'd come over for dinner with her family.
“Alex, who's that?” Lisa asked, probably having noticed the encounter I'd had with Mila mere seconds ago. “An old friend.” I responded, my eyes never leaving Mila. Lisa raised an eyebrow at me, but I didn't say anything. I was trying to figure out how I was going to survive this summer.
Mila Munroe's POV
Stepping off the Warped Tour stage after playing our first show in Brooklyn, New York, I felt great. I was amped. The crowd-as always-was amazing, and I was feeding off of their energy and excitement, and I loved it.
A lot of things had changed for me over the last five years. I'd been depressed for a few months after Alex had left, and I had even contemplated calling him and telling him to come back for me, but I didn't. I had made my bed, and I had to lie in it.
A few months after graduation, I told my parents that I wanted to pursue a career in music, and that I was moving to Los Angeles to do so. I lived in LA for a few months, and then I moved back to Maryland, after realizing LA wasn't the place for me.
When I met Jordan Jackson at a dive bar a few weeks after my return to Maryland, we realized that we both had dreams of becoming musicians and with that, a friendship was born. Shortly after, we recruited Dave Ames and Micah McEllis and Falling From Grace was born.
As for dating, I hadn't really done much in the last five years. I'd gone on a few dates, and even had a boyfriend for a few months, but it didn't work out. I'd like to say that, deep down, it didn't have anything to do with Alex, but I didn't believe that was the truth.
As much as I hated to admit it (and as silly as it sounds, seeing as it was just a high school romance), Alex had really set the bar pretty high, and no guy could compare. I had long since forgiven Alex, and had also realized that maybe I had overreacted a bit when Courtney had kissed him.
I was making my way towards the tour bus, eager for a snack, when a voice from the past caught my attention. “Mila Munroe? Is that you?” A wide grin spread across my face as I spun around, throwing myself into his open arms.
“Jack fucking Barakat!” I squealed, hugging him tightly. Fuck, had I missed Jack. Jack pulled back, looking me up and down. “Holy fuck, you got hot!” He grinned, waggling his eyebrows at me. I rolled my eyes, but couldn't stop smiling.
“I see you're just the same as you were in high school.” I said with a relieved smile. “Glad to see some things never change.” Jack opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by another voice. “Mila? Oh my god!”
I smiled widely, spreading my arms as Emersyn ran into them, hugging me tightly. “Holy shit, look at you!” She exclaimed. “How are you?” I smiled. “I'm great, Em. Really. How are you?” I asked, genuinely curious.
Sadly, Emersyn and I grew apart after the guys left for California. It was really all because of me. I was so depressed when Alex left, that I completely shut Emersyn out and stopped talking to her. She left for California to be with Jack after graduation, and that was the last I saw of her.
“I'm great.” She beamed. “Getting married.” She held up her hand, flashing a sparkly diamond ring. “Holy fuck, no way.” I exclaimed as Jack threw his arms around her and kissed her head. “Never thought I'd see the day.” I said with a laugh.
“Well, I'm supposed to be at the ATL tent signing shit, so I'll leave you two to catch up.” Jack gave Emersyn a quick kiss and ruffled my hair before racing off towards the ATL tent. Emersyn smiled at me. “We have to catch up!”
Alex Gaskarth's POV
“Dude,” Jack exclaimed, panting heavily as he raced towards me, nearly tripping over his own two feet as he screeched to a halt right in front of me. “you'll never guess who I just-” “Mila?” I quickly cut him off, knowing what he was going to say.
“Yeah,” He nodded rapidly. “how'd you know?” “I already saw her.” I admitted as I signed a t-shirt a teenage girl had thrust in my direction. “Oh...” Jack nodded. “Well, how'd that go?” I shrugged. “It was...weird.”
“Weird how?” He asked as he signed a CD for a fan. “Well, she didn't even seem mad at me anymore. She acted like nothing had happened. She was nice and friendly.” Jack shrugged. “I told you she was over you.”
“Dude, shut up.” I snapped, harsher than intended. Jack raised his eyebrows at me, before a knowing grin spread across his face. “You still like her.” “I-I do not!” I quickly denied. Too quickly, apparently, because the look on Jack's face said he knew otherwise.
“You totally do!” He exclaimed with a grin. “Alex and Mila sitting in a tree, f-u-c-k-i-n-ow!” He yelped in pain as I slammed my elbow into his stomach. “Shut the fuck up, dude.” I hissed. “Lisa could hear you.” I said, looking around.
“Right, Lisa.” Jack shook his head and I shot him a confused look. He sighed. “Look, Alex, Lisa is a great girl, she really is, but...” He trailed off. “But what?” I pressed. “She's not right for you.” He admitted. “What the hell does that mean?” I asked.
“See, this is why I don't tell you this shit, because you get mad and defensive.” He said, shaking his head. “I do not.” Jack rolled his eyes. “Yeah right. Just forget I said anything, okay?” “Jack-” “Just forget it, dude.”
Mila Munroe's POV
“So, how did Jack propose?” I asked as Emersyn and I sat in the back lounge of ATL's tour bus. I was munching on a bag of flamin hot cheetos that I'd snagged from my own bus when we'd stopped off so she could meet the guys. “This I've gotta know.”
“Well, you know how Jack is.” She said with a laugh. “We were back in Towson, visiting Jack's family and we decided to go to the lake where we all used to hang out in high school. So, we're on the dock and Jack is like, hey look over there.” She said, shaking her head.
“Me, being me, I turned to look, but of course there was nothing. I turned to look at Jack, and found him down on one knee in front of me, with this gorgeous diamond ring in his hand. He tells me about how he's loved me from the second he saw me and all this other sweet stuff.” She said.
“It was the sweetest, most un-Jack Barakat-like thing he's ever done, but it was so romantic and now we're getting married in October.” She said with a huge grin. “Congratulations, Em. I'm so happy for you.” I said, reaching out to hug her.
“So, anyways, how have you been? I haven't seen you in like five years. What's been going on in the world of Camilla Munroe?” I wrinkled my nose at the use of my full name. “Still hate being called that.” She laughed. “Really though?”
I shrugged. “Nothing, really. After graduation, I moved to LA for a few months, but it wasn't for me, so I moved back to Towson. Shortly after, I met Jordan and he introduced me to Dave and Micah and we formed Falling From Grace.” I explained.
“We have a few albums out now, did a few world tours...all that jazz.” “What about a man? Boyfriend? Fiance? Husband?” I shook my head. “Nope. Single and ready to mingle.” I said with a chuckle. “Really? No one since-”
“I've had boyfriends since Alex.” I cut her off. “They just didn't last.” I said with a shrug. Emersyn nodded, but she didn't press it, and for that I was grateful. I wasn't interested in chatting about my love life...or lack thereof, for that matter.
“So, how's the wedding planning going?” I asked. She sighed in exasperation. “I've got like nothing done. I mean, it's in two months and I'm panicking because Jack is absolutely useless in that department and my maid of honor and I had a falling out.” She frowned.
“So, not only do I not have much of anything planned, but I also have no maid of honor.” Emersyn's eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at me, and I raised my eyebrows. “Mila, I have a great idea!” She exclaimed. “What...?” I asked warily.
“You should be my maid of honor!” My eyes widened. “Um, no, that's okay.” I said quickly, shaking my head. Weddings so weren't my thing. “Please?” She begged, pulling this ridiculous puppy dog pout as she batted her eyelashes at me.
“Emersyn, we haven't even spoken to one another in five years, and you want me to be the maid of honor in your wedding? What sense does that make.” She frowned. “Despite how long it's been since we've talked, you're still my best friend, Mila.” She said.
“We've been friends since we were in diapers, Mila, and no matter how long we don't speak, that's not going to change. I really want to reconnect with you, and I really want you to be the maid of honor in my wedding. It would mean the world to me.”
I sighed heavily, knowing there was no way I was going to be able to get out of this. “Fine.” I grumbled. “But, I swear to god, if you make me wear some ridiculous poofy dress, I will end you.” Emersyn squealed loudly, flinging her arms around my neck. What did I get myself into?
“Hey, babe. That was a great show!” I smiled, opening my arms to hug my girlfriend of the last six months, Lisa Ruocco, but she wrinkled her nose in disgust and stepped back. “No way.” She giggled. “You're all sweaty and gross.”
Smirking, I dropped my arms and headed towards the refreshments table. After having performed a ten song set, I was dying of thirst. I grabbed a bottle of water from the bucket filled with ice and quickly chugged it down.
I was just reaching for another bottle after having tossed the empty one in the nearby waste basket, when a voice from the past stopped me in my tracks. It was a voice I could never forget. A voice I never thought I would hear again.
“Wow, you're awfully thirsty, aren't you?” She giggled as I turned to face her. She was even more beautiful than I remember. Her hair was longer, falling down her back, and was no dark red. It was now blonde, and it looked great on her.
She was a lot shorter than I remembered, but a hell of a lot curvier than she had been when I'd last seen her. That was nearly five years ago. She flashed me a gleaming white smile, hidden the behind pouty pink lips that I used to kiss.
“What's wrong?” She giggled again, toying with a lock of her hair. “Cat got your tongue?” She teased, beaming at me. This was odd. When we'd parted ways all those years ago, she'd wanted nothing to do with me, yet here she was, acting as if nothing had happened between us.
“I-” Was all I could manage; I was at a complete loss of words. She giggled again, shaking her head. “Wha-what are you doing here?” I finally managed to find my voice. “I'm part of the tour.” She answered. If I had been drinking something, I surely would've choked on it.
“P-Part of the tour? Meaning, you'll be here...all summer?” I stammered pathetically. “Yes, Alex. I'll be here. All summer.” She smirked; I was glad to see her sarcastic nature hasn't changed. It was one of the things I loved about her.
I couldn't help but drag my eyes over her body, taking in her attire. She wore a gray, loose tank top and a pair of distressed denim shorts. I was happy to see she was still wearing her favorite pair of combat boots, that she wore all the time in high school.
“Did you not read the lineup?” She asked, catching my attention as my eyes snapped up to meet hers. She nodded her head in the list on the wall, showing the order in which the bands would be taking the stage while in this city.
Dragging my eyes down the list, I came across the name of a band I wasn't familiar with, right under my band's name. “Falling From Grace?” I read aloud, to which she nodded. “That's my band. You always did tell me I should be a singer.” She said with a wink.
I opened my mouth to speak, but clamped it shut when a tall, lanky guy threw his arm around her shoulders and smiled down at her. “We're up, Munroe.” She smiled up at him, nodding slightly. He removed his arm from her shoulders and headed over to grab a guitar from the tech.
“I'm sure I'll see you around, handsome.” She flashed me a quick smile. “Enjoy the show.” With a wink and another smile, she disappeared onto the stage, following after her bandmate. I was still in shock by the fact that she was even here.
“What's up, Brooklyn!?” She screamed, wrapping her slender fingers around the microphone and bringing it to her lips as the crowd screamed back in response. “We are Falling From Grace, and this is Rumors!”
With that, the band started up the music, and Mila began to sing. Her voice was amazing, and I couldn't help but think back to when she had sang with me in my room to Blink 182 when she'd come over for dinner with her family.
“Alex, who's that?” Lisa asked, probably having noticed the encounter I'd had with Mila mere seconds ago. “An old friend.” I responded, my eyes never leaving Mila. Lisa raised an eyebrow at me, but I didn't say anything. I was trying to figure out how I was going to survive this summer.
Mila Munroe's POV
Stepping off the Warped Tour stage after playing our first show in Brooklyn, New York, I felt great. I was amped. The crowd-as always-was amazing, and I was feeding off of their energy and excitement, and I loved it.
A lot of things had changed for me over the last five years. I'd been depressed for a few months after Alex had left, and I had even contemplated calling him and telling him to come back for me, but I didn't. I had made my bed, and I had to lie in it.
A few months after graduation, I told my parents that I wanted to pursue a career in music, and that I was moving to Los Angeles to do so. I lived in LA for a few months, and then I moved back to Maryland, after realizing LA wasn't the place for me.
When I met Jordan Jackson at a dive bar a few weeks after my return to Maryland, we realized that we both had dreams of becoming musicians and with that, a friendship was born. Shortly after, we recruited Dave Ames and Micah McEllis and Falling From Grace was born.
As for dating, I hadn't really done much in the last five years. I'd gone on a few dates, and even had a boyfriend for a few months, but it didn't work out. I'd like to say that, deep down, it didn't have anything to do with Alex, but I didn't believe that was the truth.
As much as I hated to admit it (and as silly as it sounds, seeing as it was just a high school romance), Alex had really set the bar pretty high, and no guy could compare. I had long since forgiven Alex, and had also realized that maybe I had overreacted a bit when Courtney had kissed him.
I was making my way towards the tour bus, eager for a snack, when a voice from the past caught my attention. “Mila Munroe? Is that you?” A wide grin spread across my face as I spun around, throwing myself into his open arms.
“Jack fucking Barakat!” I squealed, hugging him tightly. Fuck, had I missed Jack. Jack pulled back, looking me up and down. “Holy fuck, you got hot!” He grinned, waggling his eyebrows at me. I rolled my eyes, but couldn't stop smiling.
“I see you're just the same as you were in high school.” I said with a relieved smile. “Glad to see some things never change.” Jack opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by another voice. “Mila? Oh my god!”
I smiled widely, spreading my arms as Emersyn ran into them, hugging me tightly. “Holy shit, look at you!” She exclaimed. “How are you?” I smiled. “I'm great, Em. Really. How are you?” I asked, genuinely curious.
Sadly, Emersyn and I grew apart after the guys left for California. It was really all because of me. I was so depressed when Alex left, that I completely shut Emersyn out and stopped talking to her. She left for California to be with Jack after graduation, and that was the last I saw of her.
“I'm great.” She beamed. “Getting married.” She held up her hand, flashing a sparkly diamond ring. “Holy fuck, no way.” I exclaimed as Jack threw his arms around her and kissed her head. “Never thought I'd see the day.” I said with a laugh.
“Well, I'm supposed to be at the ATL tent signing shit, so I'll leave you two to catch up.” Jack gave Emersyn a quick kiss and ruffled my hair before racing off towards the ATL tent. Emersyn smiled at me. “We have to catch up!”
Alex Gaskarth's POV
“Dude,” Jack exclaimed, panting heavily as he raced towards me, nearly tripping over his own two feet as he screeched to a halt right in front of me. “you'll never guess who I just-” “Mila?” I quickly cut him off, knowing what he was going to say.
“Yeah,” He nodded rapidly. “how'd you know?” “I already saw her.” I admitted as I signed a t-shirt a teenage girl had thrust in my direction. “Oh...” Jack nodded. “Well, how'd that go?” I shrugged. “It was...weird.”
“Weird how?” He asked as he signed a CD for a fan. “Well, she didn't even seem mad at me anymore. She acted like nothing had happened. She was nice and friendly.” Jack shrugged. “I told you she was over you.”
“Dude, shut up.” I snapped, harsher than intended. Jack raised his eyebrows at me, before a knowing grin spread across his face. “You still like her.” “I-I do not!” I quickly denied. Too quickly, apparently, because the look on Jack's face said he knew otherwise.
“You totally do!” He exclaimed with a grin. “Alex and Mila sitting in a tree, f-u-c-k-i-n-ow!” He yelped in pain as I slammed my elbow into his stomach. “Shut the fuck up, dude.” I hissed. “Lisa could hear you.” I said, looking around.
“Right, Lisa.” Jack shook his head and I shot him a confused look. He sighed. “Look, Alex, Lisa is a great girl, she really is, but...” He trailed off. “But what?” I pressed. “She's not right for you.” He admitted. “What the hell does that mean?” I asked.
“See, this is why I don't tell you this shit, because you get mad and defensive.” He said, shaking his head. “I do not.” Jack rolled his eyes. “Yeah right. Just forget I said anything, okay?” “Jack-” “Just forget it, dude.”
Mila Munroe's POV
“So, how did Jack propose?” I asked as Emersyn and I sat in the back lounge of ATL's tour bus. I was munching on a bag of flamin hot cheetos that I'd snagged from my own bus when we'd stopped off so she could meet the guys. “This I've gotta know.”
“Well, you know how Jack is.” She said with a laugh. “We were back in Towson, visiting Jack's family and we decided to go to the lake where we all used to hang out in high school. So, we're on the dock and Jack is like, hey look over there.” She said, shaking her head.
“Me, being me, I turned to look, but of course there was nothing. I turned to look at Jack, and found him down on one knee in front of me, with this gorgeous diamond ring in his hand. He tells me about how he's loved me from the second he saw me and all this other sweet stuff.” She said.
“It was the sweetest, most un-Jack Barakat-like thing he's ever done, but it was so romantic and now we're getting married in October.” She said with a huge grin. “Congratulations, Em. I'm so happy for you.” I said, reaching out to hug her.
“So, anyways, how have you been? I haven't seen you in like five years. What's been going on in the world of Camilla Munroe?” I wrinkled my nose at the use of my full name. “Still hate being called that.” She laughed. “Really though?”
I shrugged. “Nothing, really. After graduation, I moved to LA for a few months, but it wasn't for me, so I moved back to Towson. Shortly after, I met Jordan and he introduced me to Dave and Micah and we formed Falling From Grace.” I explained.
“We have a few albums out now, did a few world tours...all that jazz.” “What about a man? Boyfriend? Fiance? Husband?” I shook my head. “Nope. Single and ready to mingle.” I said with a chuckle. “Really? No one since-”
“I've had boyfriends since Alex.” I cut her off. “They just didn't last.” I said with a shrug. Emersyn nodded, but she didn't press it, and for that I was grateful. I wasn't interested in chatting about my love life...or lack thereof, for that matter.
“So, how's the wedding planning going?” I asked. She sighed in exasperation. “I've got like nothing done. I mean, it's in two months and I'm panicking because Jack is absolutely useless in that department and my maid of honor and I had a falling out.” She frowned.
“So, not only do I not have much of anything planned, but I also have no maid of honor.” Emersyn's eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at me, and I raised my eyebrows. “Mila, I have a great idea!” She exclaimed. “What...?” I asked warily.
“You should be my maid of honor!” My eyes widened. “Um, no, that's okay.” I said quickly, shaking my head. Weddings so weren't my thing. “Please?” She begged, pulling this ridiculous puppy dog pout as she batted her eyelashes at me.
“Emersyn, we haven't even spoken to one another in five years, and you want me to be the maid of honor in your wedding? What sense does that make.” She frowned. “Despite how long it's been since we've talked, you're still my best friend, Mila.” She said.
“We've been friends since we were in diapers, Mila, and no matter how long we don't speak, that's not going to change. I really want to reconnect with you, and I really want you to be the maid of honor in my wedding. It would mean the world to me.”
I sighed heavily, knowing there was no way I was going to be able to get out of this. “Fine.” I grumbled. “But, I swear to god, if you make me wear some ridiculous poofy dress, I will end you.” Emersyn squealed loudly, flinging her arms around my neck. What did I get myself into?