The pretender (An All Time Low Story)

Chapter Two

Jesse's POV

When I arrive at work, I go straight behind the counter and start helping Nick with the current orders. Nick and I have known each other since my freshman year of high school. We were in marching band together, and then even closer on Drumline together for my last 3 years of school. We were really close at first, then we drifted away. He moved his senior year, and I stayed in the country. When I moved into the city, I applied for this current job, and I found out that he had been working here since the move. We hit it back off and now I considered him my best friend. My best friend that PJ didn't know about.

As we were working, I started telling him about the new job. Even though I was on drumline with him, I had always had a passion for the guitar. I had only joined drumline because my Band Director asked me to, meaning I could play the marching bass drum, but not the drumset. He seemed upset that I was leaving town, which confused me. I knew that we were friends, but I didn't think he'd actually care if I left.

After a while with very few customers, two men walked in. My heart almost stopped, I swear. The two men that walked in were absolutely perfect. One had brown swishy hair that slightly covered his large eyebrows and his golden brown eyes. The other was very muscular and was carrying a skateboard. I recognized the one with the skateboard as Zach Merrick. He skated with PJ sometimes whenever he was in town. He had been over to my apartment a few times even. I didn't know him too well, but he was the most polite friend that PJ had, so I didn't have a problem with him.

Nick told me that he needed a break, so I was left to deal with these two by myself. They seemed more than content talking amongst themselves, so they didn't notice me, which was fine, I didn't really care to be noticed. As they walked up to the counter, I heard them talking about a guitar tech who was supposedly really hot. I giggled a little at this comment and that's when they realized I was there. Zach looked at me funny for a moment, as if he were trying to remember me from somewhere.

“Hi Zach, what can I get for you?” I said shyly. I was never very vocal, so I guess he didn't really remember me from PJ's. He sighed slightly and smiled.

“Hi, I'm assuming that you're a fan?” He said kindly. I looked at him confusedly. I had no clue what he was talking about. A fan of what? I guess he might be in a band because of the comment on the guitar tech.

“Um, no, actually. I'm sorry, but don't you sometimes skateboard with PJ Smith?” I asked quietly. Confusion spread across his face. He seemed to slightly recognize me, but he didn't know my name, I was sure of it.

“Yeah, sometimes. How do you know him? Slightly more importantly, how do you know me because of him?”

“Erm, he's my older brother, and he lives with me, so I've seen you over at my house hanging out with him. Um, I try to stay out of the way so I'm not surprised that you don't remember me.” I smiled slightly at him. “Anyway, what would you like?”

He smiled back at me, realization hitting him. “Oh! I forgot he had a little sister for a moment. He doesn't talk about you much so I must have forgotten. I'll have a water bottle but my friend here will have a large mocha frappuccino.” I had forgotten that his friend was there, and just smiled at the both of them, making my way to get their drinks.

As I was grabbing a water bottle from in front of them, my sleeved slipped up, reveling not only a scar or two, but mostly lots and lots of words written in sharpie. “Nice tattoos, what do they say?” asked Zach's friend. I blushed slightly, pulling my sleeve back down.

“Um, It's actually sharpie, and I actually haven't gotten a chance to read all of it yet. It's a rather long story.” I said, smiling slightly. The way that he nodded his head showed that he was still interested in what they said, but he didn't seem to notice the scars, which was a good thing.

“Its okay, I have time, as long as you want to tell me. You maybe wanna talk sometime?” he seemed slightly nervous saying this, and Zach shot him a look. I knew why, because my brother hated everyone, even the people he hung out with, and this guy is not the type of person that he would approve of. This boy had at least 3 tattoo's, a rose on his hand, a skull and cross bones on his neck, and a skeleton on his forearm.

For some reason, I actually felt like talking to this guy. Maybe it was because I doutbed that I'd ever see him again, or maybe it was because I was leaving town soon so PJ wouldn't be able to get too mad at me. I just smiled again at Zach, showing him that it was okay that this guy asked. Zach relaxed slightly, but he still seemed tense. I'm pretty sure he knew what PJ was like.

“Um, you know what, fuck it, sure.” I said, gaining some confidence. “As soon as I get these done for you guys, and Nick comes back in, I can take a break and sit down with you guys if you want. Okay?” I said, still rather quiet, but more outgoing than before. This boy just smiled at me and nodded vigorously. He also bit his lip slightly, which I must say, was extremely hot.