The Band And The Busker (All Time Low/Alex Gaskarth) *COMPLETED*

The Gathering

Chapter Seventeen: The Gathering

ALEX

'Do you Alex take Kara to be your wife?'

I smile and glance lovingly over at my soon to be wife Kara and how stunning she looked in her wedding dress. I was a very lucky man indeed.

'I do.'

Kara blushes and looks down at her feet. Next, to us, the priest clears his throat, 'do you Kara take Alex to be your husband?'

Without hesitation, she responds, 'I do.'

She looks up at me, her smile making me feel all warm inside. Just then, I yawn. She tilts her head to the side, 'are you okay, Alex?'

I yawn again, 'I'm really tired.'

I rub my eyes, not wanting to ruin my wedding day. However, when I reopen my eyes, I'm no longer standing at the altar saying 'I do' to Kara, but back in my bunk on the bus with Kara nowhere to be seen.

That was a crazy dream to have, especially since Kara and I weren't even together. It could have been triggered by her wanting to start our friendship up again, or it could have some deeper meaning. I needed to tell the guys, they would know what it meant.

Jumping out of the bunk not caring about my bed head, I rush to the front of the bus only taking note of my bandmates.

'Guys I just had the strangest dream, I was standing at the altar and Kara, and I were saying I do to each other. That's messed up right?'

Jack clears his throat and motions towards the sofa on the other side, where my eyes focus on Dylan, Harry, Johnny, Ben, and Kol. How long had they been here? They had just heard me spill everything.

Dylan beams a huge smile in my direction, 'it's a sign that you and Kara need to be together, Alex.'

I shake my head and then notice the front door of the bus had also been left open, obviously no one had shut it after they came on the bus.

'I don't think it means that Dylan.'

Harry snorts, 'Kara had a dream about you, Alex, the day of our first show. She imagined running off stage and into your arms, and she also called you her fiancée.'

I couldn't believe what Harry was telling me. Now it couldn't be a coincidence that we both had similar dreams. I wasn't a religious man or anything, but maybe I had to act on this news while it was fresh.

'You and Kara are perfect for each other, everyone can see this Alex. Man up and do the right thing by her,' Rian was my voice of reason within our band. I'd messed up with Kara in the past, but now I needed to play the cards fate had dealt me.

KARA

The rest of my band had gone pottering off somewhere, leaving me with my thoughts. I sat in one of the deck chairs out the front of the bus just bathing in the morning sunlight, it was warm on my skin. I feel someone come up behind me, a shadow casts down above me, and I look up into the eyes of my boyfriend, Oli.

'Good morning babe.'

Oli grins, leans down and pecks me softly on the lips.

'I love you so much, Kara.'

'What's brought this on Oli? I love you too.'

He chuckles nervously, 'I never want to lose you to someone else.'

I sigh, 'you're too cute sometimes Oli. You're not going to lose me.'

He smiles again, 'I'll see you later, I have a signing now.'

I wave him off and watch him run away from the bus area late for the signing because he came to say good morning to me. He was a good boyfriend, but I couldn't place why he was suddenly worried about losing me.

'Good morning Miss Kara. Enjoying the fine morning weather?'

Alex pops up next to me out of nowhere making me jump and clutch my chest in shock.

'Geesh Gaskarth thanks for giving me a heart attack. But yes, I am enjoying the nice weather before it gets too hot.'

He chuckles and takes one of the vacated chairs opposite me, 'how's Warped Tour treating you guys?'

I shrug my shoulders, 'It's been going great, a really fun experience for us. What about you? Any new news in your life? I mean we haven't caught up in a long time.'

Alex's carefree, happy demeanour changes, his face saddening,  'err you remember the night when I went to the club and Max sent those pictures. It turns out someone at the club dugged me because I couldn't remember much. We're waiting for CCTV footage to come back, I hate being in a vulnerable position, Kara.'

I was shocked to hear that he'd been drugged. It wasn't normal for guys to get drugged, it was usually girls who were drugged and taken advantage of. I get up from my chair, close the space between us, and sit on his lap so that I can hold him in my arms.

'Shit that's rough Alex. I'm so sorry to hear that. The truth will come out, and then you won't have to feel vulnerable anymore.'

Alex sighs, 'I'm happy we're trying this whole friend thing again Kara. I missed you. I'm sorry for keeping secrets and lying to you for those couple of months.'

I continue holding him. It was nice to hear an apology for the lies. After my dream the other day, I didn't know how I wanted to approach the whole Alex situation, but here I was sat on his lap practically straddling him trying to give him some comfort.

'You shouldn't have lied to me Alex, you should have been truthful. But I'm happy we can talk again.'

ALEX

~2 Hours Later~

I was watching Beyond The Sin perform from side stage with Jack and Zack by my side. Kara was amazing at getting the crowd excited and pumped up, and damn every other member of the band was bloody talented on their instrument. Beyond The Sin were going to be big in the future.

'Excuse me mate but can I have a word with you?'

I turn to my left to see Oli standing in front of me wearing a serious expression on his face. I nod and allow him to guide me away from anyone trying to eavesdrop.

'What can I do for you, Oli?'

'Back away from Kara Alex, you're sending her bloody mixed signals! You hurt her badly, and now you want her back like nothing happened. You're sleeping with her enemy.'

I step back at Oli's little outburst. He seemed dead serious in telling me to stay away from his girlfriend. Everything he was saying was true. I was currently sleeping with Max and wanting Kara back. I shuffle on the spot.

'How do you know I want her back?'

He snorts, 'I was walking past your bus this morning when the door was open and heard everything. I know you dreamed about marrying her Alex. I love Kara, but I don't want to be with someone whose heart belongs to another.'

I shake my head, 'I had a feeling someone was standing outside the door.'

He steps forwards and pokes me in the chest, 'you don't deserve Kara, and she's too good for you. Stick with the slut who's sleeping with any guy who'll have her.'

I was too shocked to respond. Did Oli call Max a slut? She wasn't sleeping around because she loved me, maybe more so than I loved her, but I gave her what she needed. Oli smirks and walks away.

Jack and Rian flank me, 'I hate to say this Alex but Oli's right. You have to end things with Max before you can rekindle the flame with Kara.'

I nod in understanding. Just then, I see Max bounding towards me. She throws her arms around my neck and kisses me quite roughly. I don't kiss her back and manage to push her away from me.

She giggles, 'The sex was great last night Alex, sorry I had to duck out this morning I had a coffee date.'

Over Max's shoulder, I see that Kara had run off stage with her band. We make eye contact, and I swear I see the heartbreak on her face all over again. This wasn't what I wanted to happen today. She walks into Oli's open arms, and he embraces her lovingly, but not before grinning at me smugly over her shoulder.