You've Got It Made - Tay Jardine Fanfiction

Chapter Eight

Warped Tour was a place I’d always wanted to go to. It’s where all the best bands performed in America, and it had such a great reputation. For years I’d wanted to experience it myself. I’d managed to get tickets and I have to admit, it was better than I expected it would be. Watching the various different bands on the various different stages had made me wonder what it would be like to be a part of that myself. It’d be a dream come true.

I stood amongst the over excited teens that bounced and cheered loudly to the sound of their favourite band. There were fans all around me crying at the fact that they were in the same area as their idols, and all I could do was stand still with my hands in my front pockets. I wanted to be excited; I had when we first showed up here. But now I didn’t know what to feel.

“Taylor is clearly having bundles of fun.” I heard Jordan’s voice shouting beside me. Only compared to the sound of the music, Jordan’s shouting was almost inaudible. Even so, the heavy sarcasm could be heard in his tone.

“I was.” I mumbled quietly, knowing he wouldn’t be able to hear me. I turned my head to look at him and burst out laughing at the sight I saw. He was dressed in a carrot suit, trying his hardest not to get pushed over in the mass of screaming fangirls trying to get closer to the barrier. “What the actual fuck, Jordan?” I managed, still laughing. He pouted at me.

“I was just doing what you said.” He shouted over the noise.

“What do you mean?” A confused expression shone across my face. I spent a moment to think about it before bursting out laughing again. “Oh wow, Jordan I didn’t say that-” I managed, almost falling over with laughter. He looked like an idiot and every time I looked at him, I started to laugh more. I managed to calm myself down so I could explain to him what I said. “I said maybe we could rent a caravan, not become a carrot man. And even then, I wasn’t being serious.” I started to laugh again.

“Oh, that makes more sense. I couldn’t hear you over Austin Carlile’s screams.” He nodded. “Oh wait, that sounded sexual-” He cut off, laughing.

“Oh, you and Austin, eh? Kinky bitch.” I smirked, shaking my head slightly.

“Oh definitely. Anyway, why’d you look so glum?” He asked, concern in his voice. My eyes flicked to the stage and then back to Jordan. He turned around to look at who was performing, taking a moment to jog his memory. “Is that-?” He asked, knowing I’d know who he meant. I just nodded in reply.

I couldn’t believe how much they’d changed. I looked over at them again. Vic, Jaime, Tony and Mike had all gotten so popular in these last five years, and it took me by surprise to see them here. The four boys from the small garage in San Diego had changed a hell of a lot. For starters, Mike, Tony and Jaime all had tattoos. That in itself was different to see. But all four of them looked so mature. And then there was Jordan and I; I mean, the fact that Jordan was wearing a carrot suit pretty much summed us both up perfectly. Although it may not have been me in that suit, I was just as immature as Jordan was.

“I’m gonna’ go get out of this suit.” Jordan said and I nodded slightly. I couldn’t tell how he felt about seeing them here. “I’ll be back in a sec.” He walked back in the direction he came from. I looked back over at the stage just as their song, supposedly called ‘One Hundred Sleepless Nights’ had finished.

“I gotta’ say, this is probably one of the best crowds we’ve had at Warped.” Vic said, looking around at everybody. “I mean, there’s a guy in a fucking carrot costume. How do you get better than that?” All of the crowd turned to look at Jordan as he tried to fight his way through the crowd, and I couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh. “Hey man, where you going? We need all your carrotyness.” I saw people trying to pull Jordan back into the crowd and I frowned.

“Get off him!” I shouted, fighting my way through the crowd. If Jordan didn’t want to be there, it was his choice. I could tell now that he didn’t care about the fact he was wearing a carrot suit; it was just an excuse to leave. I guess what Jaime, Tony, Vic and Mike did had a big effect on Jordan, he just didn’t make it noticeable. After all, they’d all been close friends for years before I moved in with my dad. I guess having four of your best friends leave you like that was tough on him, but he never told anybody that.

I made my way over to him and clawed at people’s arms to make them let go of him. I was shoved everywhere and I thought that the crowd would win. Until Vic chimed up from the stage.

“Come on guys, don’t act like that.” They all listened to him. It was like a dog listening to it’s owner  - they all did as he said. I took hold of Jordan’s wrist and pulled him out of the crowd. “Bye then, Jordan, Taylor.” I turned around at the sound of our names. So they knew it was us. I shook my head and carried on tugging Jordan with me as Pierce The Veil began their next song.

~

“They’re different.” Jordan said as we walked eating hot dogs. I raised my eyebrows slightly and looked up at him.

“The hot dogs?” I asked, confused.

“No, you fag. Vic, Mike, Jaime and Tony.”

“Oh right.” I said, letting out a small laugh. “Yeah, they are. But then again, I guess we are too.”

“You think? I didn’t think we’d changed at all.” Jordan said, thinking about it. “I mean you’re still a midget and I’m still flawless.”

“More like I’m still a midget and you’re still full of yourself.” I smirked, punching him playfully in his arm.

“Oi, I’m great.” He smirked. We walked in silence for a moment. “They remembered us.” There was a hint of sadness in his voice.

“Yeah.” I said quietly. “Who wouldn’t remember you? You’re the fabulous Jordan Eckes. Everybody remembers who you are.” I said enthusiastically. I wanted to cheer him up, but I wasn’t used to seeing him sad that I didn’t quite know how to.

“Let’s go buy some merch.” He said, simply, wandering off in the other direction. I sighed and followed after him, trying not to get lost in the mass of people that were around. I ended up tripping over somebody's foot and fell onto the floor.

“Man down!” I shouted, laughing. I’d managed to fall on my hands and knees so my clothes didn’t get full of too much mud. Jordan turned around and laughed at the sight of me on the floor. My pain seemed to cheer him up. I frowned and pulled myself up. “You find this funny, do you, Eckes?” I glared at him, pretending to be angry. I fake tripped over and hit my hands into his chest, wiping my hands on his shirt. “Oops.” I sniggered.

“Taylor Kathleen Jardine you little bitch!” He exclaimed, grabbing my wrists and pushing me away.

“Ooh, the full names are out. Well Jordan Allen Eckes, you’re a nobjockey.” I pulled out of his grasp and set off running through the mud, completely covering my red Chuck Taylor’s in dirt.

“Get here, bitch!” He laughed, chasing after me. I ran as fast as I could, but his legs are longer, making him faster than me. He grabbed me around my waist to stop me and I squealed loudly.

“Ahem.” Somebody said from in front of us. We looked up, noticing Vic Fuentes standing in front of us. We’d ended up running by the tent where Pierce The Veil had just finished their signing. The other three were nowhere to be seen at the moment, but Vic just stood awkwardly in front of us. Jordan let go of me and we stood side by side, looking at Vic. “Hi. You were at our set earlier before, weren’t you?” He asked.

“We didn’t realise it was you guys.” I said simply. Jordan’s head had dropped to face the floor. It was weird to think that at one point in our life, we were at ease with each other. And now, it was extremely awkward between the three of us.

“I knew it was you two. Only Jordan would show up wearing a carrot suit.” He laughed quietly. Jordan shuffled awkwardly. “Long time, no see, eh?” Vic said, trying to lighten the mood. Jordan shoved his hands into his pockets and turned around, walking back the way he came. I frowned and looked at him before looking back at Vic. “What’s up with him?”

“Maybe you should think hard about what you guys actually did before you try talking to him again.” I said and turned around, jogging after Jordan.

“Tay, wait-” Vic said, but I didn’t stick around to speak to him any longer.