What If I Can't Forget You?

{3}

My alarm screamed, stirring me from sleep. I was sprawled out on my bed, my earbuds next to me. I was still in my street clothes. I usually fell asleep listening to music after I got home, so waking up like this was normal.

I sat up, groaning. My head throbbed and I needed a shower. Thank God for no class on Fridays.

Oh my God, it's Friday. I smiled, ecstatic.

I swung my legs off the bed, running to the bathroom and stripping. I showered quickly and dried off, pulling on my Collide With The Sky tee shirt, khakis, and white converse.

I tousled my hair with a towel, pulling my hair dryer out. Long hair problems. I felt like my silver hair dryer was an insult to my masculinity, so I made sure I used it in privacy.

I dried it and swept it to the side. I walked out of my bathroom into my trashed bedroom and plopped on the bed.

I called Jesse. It rang a few times and he picked up.

"Hey" came a groggy voice.

"Hey dude, how's it going?" I had no idea why I called him.

"Um, yeah, good I guess? Ian, man, it's 7:30." Oh. Yeah. He was sleeping.

"Sorry dude. Do you want me to get you Taco Bell?" Taco Bell breakfast was about Jesse's most favorite thing in the whole world.

"Hell yeah I want you to get me Taco Bell."

"Be over in 45."

"Thanks, Davis."

I hung up. It was early, but there's no way I could go back to sleep. I was energized by thoughts of tonight. Moshing to my heroes playing epic guitar solos. Fuck yeah.

I grabbed my keys and phone and headed out to my car which was parked on the street. I drove a black Honda Civic that I paid for myself. I was very proud. I named her Morgan.

I hopped in Morgan, started her, and plugged my phone into the aux cord. I shuffled my music, and drove across town to I'm Not A Vampire by Falling In Reverse.

I drummed my fingers on the wheel and sang along softly. "I'm insane, I can feel it in my bones..."

•••

I pulled up to Jesse's apartment with the food and walked in unannounced.

He was on the couch in his boxers, watching TV.

"What up, Carter?" I said, tossing him the bag with his food in it.

He nodded his head at me as I walked in.

"Oh, God bless you, Davis." He said, opening the bag and taking in the glorious smell of its contents.

I sat down across from him on the floor, opening my bag and beginning to eat.

"Well look at you, all ready for tonight." He said, mocking me.

"You'd better put some clothes on, too. People might start to talk."

He winked at me seductively.

"You know you want me."

We laughed and he retreated to his room, chewing loudly, to get dressed.

"Time me." He said, over his shoulder.

"Okay." I entered the stopwatch app on my phone. "Go."

He sprinted into his room and I heard a series of thumps and bangs from the other room as he tripped over himself to get dressed.

He appeared in the doorway, out of breath and wild-eyed. I stopped the time.

"31.07."

"Shit! Missed it by 2." We laughed.

I opened Twitter to see if Pierce The Veil tweeted anything about the show tonight. Scrolling through my feed, I saw pictures of Vic with a gorgeous caramel-haired girl, probably a new girlfriend who joined them for the tour. Apparently they had left San Fransisco, gone back south to Palm Springs, and were now coming here to perform for two nights before moving on to Arizona.

I clicked off my phone and stared at the ceiling. Just a few more hours. Just a few more hours. I stood up and walked to the couch where Jesse was sprawled, jumping on top of him. He screamed.

"Ian! I know you're excited, but try to hold it together, buddy." I sighed, not moving.

"But I wanna go nowww!" I said, using my best little girl impression.

"You're so gay."

"Thanks."

Jesse and I hung out uneventfully until around 6.

"What time does the concert start?" I asked.

"8. We have time to go to Taco Bell for dinner!"

"I'm down."

If eating at Taco Bell twice in one day doesn't completely sum up college life for you, I'm not sure what does.

But we got our food, drove to town. And we found ourselves in front of the colorful Hard Rock Hotel.