Forget About It [Alex Gaskarth]

Stressed Out

*Scarlette's POV*

"Scarlette, you're in danger!" Elise pulled me away from the group, "Do you know someone by the name of Ricky?"

I blinked and my mouth dropped open in shock, making me stutter instead of giving an actual answer.

"Well...he's trying to get revenge," Elise looked me in the eyes, "He wanted my help with it at first, but I wasn't interested in ruining Alex's life, just yours, so I declined. I began to think over Ricky's offer and I realized that even if I do hate you, I'd never go to the extent as to what Ricky is planning. I'm here to help you."

"And how am I supposed to trust you?! You literally just said that you hate me!" I folded my arms and shifted my weight to one leg.

"Just listen to me," Elise said, "Ricky is planning on sabotaging your life, and he's been following you. He's on his way to Montréal right now, and if we don't do something quick, your life could be at stake."

"For all I know, you could be the one trying to sabotage my life, not Ricky." I grimaced.

"Look, I understand that, but would you rather get your life ruined, or would you take the chance to let me save it? I know his entire plan and he doesn't even know that I'm here."

This entire situation seems completely sketchy, but what Elise was saying was starting to freak me out. If she's lying, how could she know who Ricky is? I decided to take my chances.

"Okay..." I hesitated, "I-I trust you..."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"SCARLETTE, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!" My band mates screamed at me in unison.

"Why the fuck would you trust someone who has been trying to sabotage your life ever since they met you?!" Avery's face grew red with anger. Jesse and Hudson shook their heads at me.

"Okay, if Elise was lying, then how did she know who Ricky was in the first place?!" I retaliated.

Avery sighed, "Scarlette, if something bad happens to you because of Elise, don't complain to me about it."

"She's right, Scar," Hudson said, "I wouldn't trust Elise."

Brendon burst into the lounge, causing the rest of us to jump in our seats. "Hey, everyone else is starving, wanna grab some food? Ryan wants to dine in."

All of us murmured in agreement and Brendon led us to the restaurant we'd be dining in. It was a casual restaurant, more of a tavern, though. I sat next to Ryan and Spencer before the waitress came and took our order.

Everyone ended up getting drunk except for Ryan and I. I just wasn't in the mood to drink, and I'm not sure why Ryan didn't want anything. He just ordered some water and that was the end, but Brendon got us kicked out because he kept screaming profanities. We staggered toward Panic!'s tour van, and a drunk Avery was flirting with a drunk Spencer.

I scowled at them slightly and took out my cellphone, the bright screen illuminating the night surrounding me. I dialed Alex's number and his voicemail rang through my ears. Figures.

I sighed before hanging up and I let my arm sink depressingly to my side. A little part of me thought that maybe, just maybe, Alex would answer although he's currently performing. I don't know what I expected.

An arm snaked around my shoulder and I jumped slightly, but released my tension when I realized that it was just Ryan.

"You okay, Scar?" His big, hazel eyes gazed into mine with the same playful glint as always.

I nodded and flicked my eyes toward my phone for a millisecond before giving Ryan a reassuring smile.

"We should probably head inside before Brendon and the others start causing a bigger ruckus than they already have." Ryan laughed to himself.

Lights started flashing in front of my eyes, stunning me and leaving me standing in place like a deer in headlights.

"Goddammit!" Ryan exclaimed, "It's the paparazzi!"

I ran inside the tour van as Ryan tried his best to herd everyone inside as well. After getting everyone inside, he locked everyone in the front half of the bus and sat on the couch next to me, turning on the plasma TV and flipping through random stations.

I took out my cellphone again and it was blowing up with notifications from Twitter.

@AlexAllTimeLow @Scarlette_official do you guys know about this?? [picture attached]

@Scarlette_official @AlexAllTimeLow did you guys break up? [picture attached]

#scarlex or #scarlan? @Scarlette_official @AlexAllTimeLow @thisisryanross [picture attached]

@AlexAllTimeLow better make sure his girlfriend @Scarlette_official is faithful [picture attached]

I slid over my notifications and typed in my password, going directly to my Twitter. Everyone was either asking if Alex and I broke up, if I was cheating on Alex, or if something was misunderstood. I looked at the pictures that were attached and they were of Ryan with his arm around me from a few minutes earlier.

"You have to be fucking kidding me." I muttered to myself. Ryan glanced over at me. I decided to answer the question he was thinking before he could ask it.

"Okay, I'm already stressed out enough! The last thing I fucking need is for a rumor to go around saying that I'm cheating on Alex!" I slammed my head into the palms of my hands and groaned in annoyance.

Ryan gave me a thoughtful smirk, picked up his phone and started typing like mad.

"Ryan, what the hell are you doing?!" I sighed loudly.

"It's a surprise!" Ryan smirked at me, looking up from his phone screen so I could see the mischievous glint in his eyes.

I got a new Twitter notification and it was from Ryan. I looked at his new post and it was the picture of us with Ryan's caption: "Why is this picture so scandalous? It's just me standing next to a trash can."

"Ryan, you asshole!" I chuckled.

"Hey, at least you're not sad anymore!" Ryan grinned.