Love In Real Time (Jalex)

every road

Jack would rather be anywhere but here.

That is, at a basement bar filled with the body odor and warmth of a swarm of people, which only serves to amplify the already unbearable Arizona June heat.

No, having just completed another successful school year of teaching the rudiments of music to high schoolers but a mere hours ago, the last thing Jack wants is to be in the presence of family members, especially ones that aren't his, but rather belonging to the band on stage.

A five-piece unit known as The Maine, and made up of bassist Garret, drummer Pat, guitarists Kennedy and Jared, and of course, lead singer John.

On the surface, Jack's teaching partner and roommate, which would explain why he even agreed to come tonight, but on a deeper, more important level, his best friend, his roommate, the sole reason why Jack didn't spiral all those years ago in-.

Suddenly snapping him out of the dive into horrible memories is microphone feedback in provenance from the stage, where Jack immediately directs his attention to, as does the rest of the crowd.

With all eyes now on him, John, in black dress pants and a white wife beater, stands behind the microphone, his lips stretched in a cocky grin.

"We've gathered you all here today...."

Having successfully garnered the attention of the crowd, and a few roaring laughs- from Jack included-, the frontman continues in seriousness.

"All jokes aside, we actually have a reason for you guys being here. We have some really exciting news to share."

As the words ring in Jack's ears, his eyebrows furrow in confusion. Exciting news? What the hell is John going on about?

Surely, if it's that exciting, he would have mentioned it to Jack, if not but briefly. They've been best friends for the past five years; have shared all sorts of information with each other during that period.

So, Jack finds himself wondering, why would John have kept this information from him, but most importantly, why would he choose to broadcast it here and now?

At the brink of summer in a dingy bar in front of his family?

Must be the heck of a surprise, then.

"We've recently signed a record deal with Fearless Records". John finally announces instantly earning him a chorus of claps and hollers.

Which Jack wholeheartedly participates in, jumping out of his seat and clapping and shouting louder than everyone around him, both in excitement and support.

In pride, more so, that with the help of a label, independent at that, the introspective lyrics that John has penned will finally get exposition outside of Tempe. And, likewise, in relief, that those long sleepless nights consisting of John struggling with writer's block -and questioning his entire existence at times- will be worth it in the end.

"So, in honor of that," John continues, once the cheering has subsided enough for the crowd to hear him, "The Maine is playing Warped Tour this summer, from June 25th to August 15th, inclusively."

As another roar of cheers sounds from the crowd, Jack stands still, his brain and ears processing the information in segments.

The Maine is playing Warped Tour. The festival of festivals, with this year's joint headliners being blink-182 and Death Cab for Cutie.

Not only that, but they're playing from June 25th to August 15th. That would mean starting in two days and ending just in time for the start of the new school year.

And, considering that he and John, ever since their freshman year at Arizona State, have always been by each other's side, have always encouraged each other in their respective pursuits, all of this could only mean one thing.

Jack's heart soars at the new revelation.

He, Jack Bassam Barakat, is doing Warped Tour all summer.

Not bad for a guy who, but a few seconds ago, had absolutely no plans for the summer.