Later tonight the guys are doing a show, and we have tickets in the mosh pit part. We all pull in and it's time for Avery and I to go to the crowd. We're backstage now and the guys are all getting ready, doing little finger exercises while Vic is doing vocal warm-ups.
They beckon us to join them in their pre-show huddle. We hop in and I'm between Tony and Vic, and Avery is between Jaime and Mike. As Jaime says something funny and inspirational, Mike is looking directly at me. I look back at him, then look at Vic's face and kiss his cheek lightly.
They scream Pierce the Veil and we disband. Jaime hugs Avery and pets her head creepily as a joke while saying "My precious", which is a joke they made up after watching Lord of the Rings together. Vic looks at me and smiles.
"This is the first show you'll see me as your boyfriend." Vic comments, smiling. I smile. We haven't talked about titles before at all. He wraps his arms around my neck and cranes his neck so he's looking at me. He smiles before kissing me. He detaches himself from me and all the guys are rounded up to go on stage.
Avery and I are about to leave for the crowd when Tony and Mike run over to hug us. Tony hugs Avery first, which leaves Mike to hug me. I'm shocked so I don't immediately hug him back. Once I actually do hug him back, he whispers,
"I'm so sorry about how I've been acting..." Before I can respond, Tony rips Mike off and hugs me.
"What'd he say?" he immediately asks.
"He just apologized for the way he's been acting." I answer.
"Be careful, Jai." Tony warns.
Tony's like a big brother to me. Mike is the creepy stalker next door, and Jaime is like the prostitute-brother-father-boyfriend-gay boy. And then there's Vic. Ehehehe Vic. :3
They wave goodbye and run out onto stage. Two big guys usher us into the crowd, and we find a place where we can see them. They are so great. Stay Away From My Friends is starting. Mike hasn't looked at me once, but Vic will looks at me and smile while he sings.
Tony looked at us dancing like idiots and laughed and shook his head. It gets to the part in the song where Vic sings "You're torturing me with a beautiful face," and Mike looks directly at me and holds my gaze. I tilt my head at him and he just slowly nods. I shake my head. Vic sees us looking at each other and just looks away.
The rest of the concert is awesome. After it concert, it's one of our few nights where we can actually stay a night in the city. Vic and I are going out together, and Avery and Jaime are hanging out somewhere else. Vic and I just wear normal clothes and head out. He drives, and we go to a little Chinese food place. We sit in a booth and wait for service.
"So what were you and Mike doing earlier?" Vic asks.
"What?" I reply.
"You were like, communicating through head movements and stuff." Vic explains. I quickly text Tony under the table, asking him what I should tell Vic.
"It's... I don't know, it's hard to explain." I say, trying to stall time until Tony replies. He finally texts back and tells me I should just tell Vic the truth, since I haven't really done anything wrong. I look up at Vic.
"So? Try your best to explain it." Vic says. I take a deep breath and start to explain the very long complicated story of Mike and I.
"The first night I spent with you guys, Mike took my phone and we were texting a tiny bit about you. Then he started getting weird, acting like there was something between us or something. So I talked to him at the rest stop in North Carolina and he's been weird again since then." I begin. Vic nods at me to go on.
"And he texted me and said that he's glad I'm with you instead because you'll treat me better than he would've. And at the concert he was pretty much telling me that the lyrics of Stay Away From My Friends was like me to him. So I'm like... no. And that's... the story." I finish. Vic just stares at me.
"What, did you kiss him or something?" he asks, raising his eyebrows.
"No! That's why it's weird why he's being like this." I answer.
"You didn't do anything that might make him think you liked him?" Vic asks, looking skeptical.
"No, of course not." I reply, just a bit offended.
"I know, I know, it's okay. He's done this before. Usually I don't care that much, but this gets to me. I'm gonna talk to him tomorrow." Vic decides.
"Be nice to him. He's not as cold as he seems." I warn. Vic sighs.
"I know, he's just... I don't want him to like you. I like you. He can't."
"I don't really get why he does, but that's irrelevant." I say.
"I get it, totally." Vic replies.
"Why?" I ask.
"You're... I don't know how to explain it, but it's like you're emo hardcore punk but at the time you're sweet and kind and honest and hilarious and on top of all that, you're beautiful. Like it's hardly even fair for you to have all of those things and also be pretty." Vic says. I look at my hands and smile.
"You're pretty, too..." I smile, and we both laugh.
"So I get why Mike likes you. But I still need to talk to him. 'Cause that's not right, and he needs to move on." Vic says.
"Preach it, brother." I laugh. All of a sudden my phone vibrates. It's a text from Mike.
Mike: I didn't mean to be that way right after I apologized...
Me: I know
Mike: I just don't like Vic having you when I don't get to
Me: You should get used to it
Vic stands up and sits next to me, looking at the conversation between Mike and I. He takes it and types a new message, saying,
Look Mike, you're great and funny and cool, but I really want things with Vic to work out. I've never known anyone like him. I'm sorry but you need to move on.
He hands my phone back after the message sends.
"Oh, so you think I really want things to work out?" I ask, smiling.
"Yeahhh..." Vic replies.
"What makes you say that?"
"I want us to work out. So you have to. 'Cause I'm pretty and you said so." he replies. He smiles his little Vic smile and I can't help but laughing. The feeeellllssss. He laughs, then kisses me. Mike texts back.
Mike: Okay....
I look at Vic and he just looks at the phone.
"I hope he doesn't hate me!" Vic says worriedly.
"Don't worry, he won't. You guys are brothers." I reassure him, and we go back to having dinner.
