Protection, Zack Merrick, All Time Low

5

Kimberly

"Your actual headliners will be here today, The 1975 because The Story So Far went and did a jerk move and it would make us look bad if we toured with the guys where the lead singer drop kicked a girl off stage." I shove the guys together as we walk to sound check.

"The 1975?" Jack stammered.

"I'm a friend of them and I had to get a band quick, don't blame me. Plus, people really like them. Including me. They make us look better than The Story So Far would." I point out.

"You're right, thank you for getting us someone quickly." Rian says, being the mature one. I grin at him in silent thanks.

We all walk to the venue and in thirty minutes I'm supposed to greet Matty once they come into the front of the venue.

"Matty!" I greet, running into his arms when they get here. "I haven't seen you in two years thank you so much for coming."

I hug Ross, Adam, and George excitement coursing through me. "You'll love my guys, you already said you like their music."

"Love them." Matty corrects.

I giggle and continue catching up with them, Matty kisses my cheek before they prepare for sound check themselves.

"They seem really fond of you," Zack says.

I nod, "They were my best friends for a while till Auntie and I moved."

"Really?"

"I was a sophomore and they were seniors, it happens."

"Did you ever go to college?"

"Two years of university till we didn't have the money to pay anymore." I explain.

"Do you want to go back?"

"Honestly no, I love being yalls manager so far." I explain, Zack nodded and we walked back to the bus.

My phone starts ringing and I pick it up reluctantly, staying outside of the bus to talk. I didn't check the number, thinking ot would have been The 1975s label making sure they got there okay,but it wasn't.

"Where the fuck are you!?" Denny shouts drunkenly into the phone. "You can't leave me."

"Den, I'm not sorry that I needed to leave. You couldn't keep mechained up forever." I reply, curt.

"Oh baby, please come back." He whines.

"I can't," I say shortly.

"Kimmy c'mon let's go!" Jack calls, running out of the bus. "I'm hungry."

"So you replaced me?" Denny snapped. Jack turns around and looks concerned at me.

"N-no I didn't." I stutter, bad move.

"You will come back." He snaps. "I'll drag you back if I have to, and when I do, you're not going to like it."

Jack grabs my phone, faking an English accent "Listen here cunt, leave her the fuck alone or you'll have me to deal with. Don't call her again." He hangs up and hugs me as I cry into his shoulder. "He won't mess with you or get to you, I promise."

"Jack please keep this between us?" I ask.

He nods and leads me inside. "What's wrong?" Alex immediately asks.

"Just so happy to see Matty again." I cover. He looks to Jack and Jack nods, hardly hesitating.

"Let's um, let me make something to eat." I coo, and Zack comes to help me. I put my headphones in, but the conversation keeps going through my head.

I'll drag you back here if I have to, and when I do, you're not going to like it.

I pull Alex back into the bunk room, and I sob into his shoulder, "Alex he- he threatened me again and he- He's going to want to find me, and I'm scared Alex, things are getting good again and I don't want it to stop." I whimper.

Alex rubs my back and nuzzling into my shoulder.

"He won't find you."

"Lex what if he does?" I cry.

"Then Jack and I will kick his ass. And I'm sure Rian would too, maybe even Zack. From now on you're not allowed to leave the bus alone either, k?"

"Okay." I mutter.

Alex pulls back and whipes away my tears, hugging me shin, assuring me it'll be okay.