A Collection of One-Shots [Requests Open]

The Many Problems We Had [Austin Carlile] for SleepingWithPizza

Oh, my GOD. Talk about the worst time for your Internet to crap out! I AM SO SO SO SO SORRY!!! Here's your second one-shot. I really hope you like it. Again, I'm so sorry.

~Grace

~*~*~*~

From the moment I met Austin, I knew he was my soul mate. I knew I would wind up marrying him. I'd never seen anyone so perfect in my life and I just knew I had to make him mine.

But there was always something getting in between us.

The first thing was my tour manager, Christopher (or Toph, as we affectionately called him).

Now, don't get me wrong. Toph was a great guy. He only ever wanted what was best for the band. He always wanted us our full capacity when playing our shows. That's why he created his rules.

The first couple of rules were the usual ones that we gave ourselves when we first started out and we didn't have a manager.

Number One: No drinking before a show. That was a shitty idea and we didn't want to let our fans down.

Number Two: Make sure you do your part in the band. Help with equipment, chores around the bus, etc.

However, he had one rule we never gave ourselves.

The Third And Final Rule: No relationships. This way, there was no room for distractions. And especially no relationships with the other band on tour.

At first I'd groaned along with the rest of the guys. It was really a rather stupid rule. One the guys would most definitely break. According to them, there were just too many babes that needed their lovin'. I, on the other hand, didn't do for one night stands. And I definitely wasn't on the market for a serious relationship. We were just touring way too much, and I wanted to be able to give my all in the relationship.

I didn't realize how badly that rule would come back to bite me on the ass when I met Austin.

I'd heard of Of Mice & Men before. It was kind of impossible not to. They were taking off in the industry, already so very popular. We had never met them in person, however.

So when I heard that we would be touring with them, I was kind of excited. I'd heard that they were amazing people with amazing chemistry that really shone through in their music, and I couldn't wait to meet them.

When we met them, Toph's words echoed in my head. He had only told us the day before. But when I made eye contact with Austin, those words seemed to float away into an oblivion, and it was just Austin and me in that room, and nothing else seemed to matter. It felt as if time had stopped.

We stood there staring at each other for a while before Josh, the vocalist in my band, cleared his throat, effectively snapping us out of our reverie.

"A-Austin," he'd stuttered out, holding out his hand for me to shake.

I'd taken his hand in mine, only to get a thrill down my spine. Looking into his chocolate brown eyes, I'd replied very smartly with, "Um."

For a second, words evaded me and I'd felt the blush creep up my neck and onto my cheeks. At first I hadn't known what was going on. I'd never blushed before. It wasn't really my thing.

"Aw, Alix is blushing!" My brother and fellow guitarist exclaimed. "You're too cute for her, I think, Austin."

Too embarrassed, I'd run away. I'd sprinted from Austin and ran to the bus, my cheeks still burning.

Austin was persistent, however. He'd come up to me again a different time and, thankfully, I hadn't been as nervous the second time around.

We hung around a lot the next couple of weeks. Soon, it was like we were joined at the hip. And instead if hindering me in the band, he really pushed me to be the best I could be. I was playing better than ever before, and it was all for him.