What If I Can't Forget You?

{11}

Ian's POV

Damn. Ouch.

She rejected me. It was going so well, and she rejected me.

Granted, it was going in the direction of a hook-up, but what did I care? Claire was gorgeous AND sweet. Girlfriend material.

That's probably why she belongs to Vic Fuentes. For a moment, though, I felt like she really was into me. That means I have hope.

This stage job can't be that bad, can it? Especially since I get to spend time with Claire and a bunch of celebrities. I just have to make sure I don't send the wrong message to Alex.

I sat there mentally prepping myself for the tour to come. Oh God, what about school? My family? I don't know. I guess life is all about spur-of-the-moment decisions. This could be my only chance I ever get to go on an adventure like this.

The door burst open, and my thoughts ended abruptly. Alex walked in with a swish of papers and a slam of the door. I raised my eyebrows as she sat down close next to me.

"Are we a go?" I asked, smiling. She smiled back.

"We're definitely a go." She threw her arms around me and hugged me.

I froze, taken by surprise, then gently patted her back, silently signaling I wanted her to let go.

"Great!" I said, as she let go. I feigned excitement, and began looking at the multitude of papers she brought.

She began explaining what each one was, but I tuned her out and began signing this, filling out that. When I looked up at her, she was staring at me expectantly.

"What?" I asked. She rolled her eyes.

"I said," she said, "do you want me to introduce you to the boys tonight?"

"Who?"

"The boys, Ian! You're not a very good listener."

The boys? As in, like, Pierce The Veil? As in, my heroes? Hell yes.

"Hell yeah! You would do that for me?"

She blushed.

"Anytime."

"Thanks, Alex."

She smiled.

"Oh shit! I guess you need to pack if you're going to be coming on tour with us."

"Oh shit indeed. I do." I fumbled for my keys and started for the door. "I'll be back in about an hour. Alex-" I turned and grabbed her hand. "Thank you. For everything." She smiled, and looked like she wanted a kiss. No thanks.

•••

It was around 4 when I got back to my apartment. I grabbed a duffel bag and stuffed four pairs of jeans, some tee shirts, and a bunch of socks and underwear inside. I put my toothbrush, some deodorant, and a comb in one of the pockets.

I guess I was okay on cash, seeing that I would be getting paid periodically throughout the tour. I grabbed my wallet and phone charger then headed for the door.

I looked over my shoulder at my trashed apartment, missing the place already. My guitar sat propped up against the wall, surrounded by crumpled sheet music and other miscellaneous things strewn on the floor. I was going to miss music school, but it was spring, and the semester was going to be over soon. I was just prolonging my summer break, right? And it's not like I was failing any classes- I had straight 100's and most of the professors were close friends of mine.

I closed the door, locking it behind me, and headed down the stairs to Morgan. As I drove back downtown, I thought about life. I thought about how lucky I was. How lucky I had been that the band had come to Vegas, how lucky I had been to meet Alex, how lucky I had been to be able to come on this adventure.

I took in the neon lights of my hometown for the last time in a long time. I parked Morgan in the parking garage and headed inside, bag in hand.

I met Alex and Claire upstairs, and waited on the couch while they got ready for the concert and packed for the bus departure tonight. Claire mostly stood away from me, anxiously glaring in my direction.

I was fidgety with excitement. I get to meet them, I thought. I actually get to meet them.

"Okay!" Alex announced, stepping out of the bathroom, hair straight and makeup perfect. "Are you guys ready to go?" I eyed her, head to toe. She was hot, I decided. But not exactly my type.

We walked down to the venue together. I was ecstatic. The girls decided not to watch the show and instead wait backstage. I moshed again, enjoying every second the band had to offer.

They finished King For A Day, and exited the stage. I ran off the crowd floor and down a back hallway to one of the stage doors, where Alex waited, propping it open.

"Hey, Ian." She said, In a syrupy, seductive tone. The fuck was up with that?

As I turned the corner, I saw them.
Vic, Jaime, Tony, Mike.

Resisting the urge to pass out, I stood there in awe at the sweaty guys.

"Boys," said Alex, "this is Ian."