Falling Asleep On A Stranger

Chapter 5

A.N.: Forgive me for not uploading this story earlier this week. I simply did not have the time to sit down and upload it. As a result, today I'm uploading an extra chapter to make up for last week and also I'm uploading this week's chapters as well.. a day early! :D Hope you're all enjoying the story and don't forget to give feedback.

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Jenna:

I burst out laughing. Tony looked so ridiculous fanning himself like a girl. I punched him softly in the arm. He grabbed his arm where I punched him and placed a hurt expression on his face. “Ouch. I barely know you and you’re already hitting me. Not a good sign.” He joked…or at least I hoped he was joking. Once he smiled and I knew I was right. “You have to be careful who you’re conceited around. Your cockiness might just get you in trouble.” I said with a smile. He laughed. “Okay, okay. I’ll calm down.”

I was good to see him smiling again. I hated to see the pain that his girl, or ex-girl, caused him. He really was so amazing and I could tell that arguing really wore him out. He was one of those peaceful people that would rather be smiling and having fun than arguing. And for some reason, I had made it my personal mission to keep that smile on his face.

“So tell me, how did you end up as a rock star?” I really wanted to know him better. He looked off into the empty street before us, “Well I ended up in Trigger My Nightmare with Jaime and a couple of friends. It was really fun. Then one day, while I was working at this guitar shop, Vic and Mike walked in and we started to chat. We got along really well and they mentioned that they were working on Pierce the Veil and needed band members. I told them about Jaime and me and we set up a date so they could see what we had. I told Jaime that day and he was beyond excited. The day we met, we all got along so well and we became a part of the band. They had pretty much already finished the first album and we simply needed to learn the songs for live shows. It was really great. From then on, our friendship started growing along with our careers and it has been beyond amazing. I’m living my dream.” He smiled at the memory then turned to look at me. “That sounds amazing. I’ve always dreamed of being able to do the same, but so far it hasn’t worked out for me.” I chuckled and gave him a weak smile. “You’re a musician?” he seemed surprised. “Yes, actually.” “What do you play?” He was staring at me straight on, and I could feel my face getting a bit red under so much attention. “Piano, saxophone, violin, flute. . . oh and I sing as well. I’ve picked up guitar in the past year but I’m still working on that one.” I couldn’t help but turning a bit shy. I never liked to talk about my talents. I was always one of those people who kept on the down low about such things. “Really? That is so cool! Mike would totally love you for playing the flute.” He smiled at me and I couldn’t help thinking how much I loved it when he smiled. He had a gorgeous smile. I laughed softly.

Being with him, talking to him felt so normal. I felt that he liked this. “Do you ever tire of being treated like a rock star?” I had to know. He sighed, “Yes, actually, I do. It makes me forget that I’m just another person and I don’t like feeling above anyone else. Sometimes I just wish someone would come up to me and say hi simply because they want to meet a stranger, not because they’ve recognized me from a magazine or music video. I can’t talk to someone and pretend to be equal to them because they keep saying things like ‘You’ve helped me through so much. I can’t believe I’m finally meeting Tony fucking Perry.’” He hesitated slightly, “Don’t get me wrong, I love that we’ve been able to help people with our music. I just sometimes wish that I could speak to them as a friend, not an idol. I want to be normal sometimes.” I saw that his smile had fallen from his face. “You know, most fans don’t know that. They’ve looked up to you for a long time and when your music saves their lives, they want you to know. It’s their way of letting you know that you are special. Sometimes they don’t go about it in the right way, but they try. You should just try telling them that when they walk up. Let them know that you’re just like anyone else.” I spoke calmly, hoping that he understood my point. His smile returned to his face and he turned to look at me. “Yeah, I guess you’re right in a way. Thanks.” “Hey, no problem. Plus believe me, if I hadn’t known you don’t always like being treated as a rock star I would probably be trying to get you to follow me on twitter already.” I laughed and his smile grew bigger. “Maybe we can work something out later.”

His smile was so bright. I loved the feeling of being able to speak to one of my favorite persons in the planet so casually. I knew then that this was the moment I wanted to remember forever instead of being in the crowd looking up at the band’s performance. Yes, it had been fun, but right now, talking to Tony was absolutely perfect. I took in his smile and built up the guts to say, “You know, you have such a beautiful smile. You really should show it off more often. It looks good on you.” He laughed shyly, “Thanks. I’ve heard that a lot from fans but for some reason, coming from you it sounds more real. I guess it’s because you act so natural around me. I like this, you make me feel normal. Like I can still walk around and not be mobbed by a group of girls for autographs. Thanks for that.” I smiled. “Anytime. And don’t worry, I’ll be back later with my friends and mob you for autographs.” I joked. “After all I did lose my spot in the meet and greet line for you.” I laughed and he joined in. “Okay, if you promise not to mob me with your friends, I promise to get you that autograph later.” I smiled and nodded. “Sounds like we have a deal. No friends, just me.” He laughed.

I rubbed the back of my neck then and felt the chain from my necklace. “Oh gosh, I almost forgot.” I stopped in my tracks and Tony did the same, turning to face me. I pulled my necklace over my head. It was a chain with a silver guitar pick which read Key Street on the front along with the brand logo and had a drawing of a turtle etched into it on the back along with Tony's name in small letters. The chain also had an almost completely built Death Star beside the pick along with a small metal tag that read ‘Lest We Forget’. I had sent the necklace along with the pick to be made months earlier, and the Death Star and the tag had been a gift from my father. “I was going to give you this at the meet and greet. It’s not much, but it is meaningful to me and I thought you would like it.” I said as I held out the necklace to him, a smile painted on my face. I could feel my face turning scarlet. He took the necklace from my hand and looked at it. “Wow, this is amazing! Where did you get it?” he asked excitement clear in his voice. “I sent the pick to be made a couple of months ago when I got my ticket for the show. I wanted to be able to give you something as a thank you for all the hard work you’ve put into your music. As for the Death Star, it was a gift from my father from years ago. He gave it to me on my eighth birthday. Specially made to fit my Star Wars love. It was a keychain back then, but once I got the necklace, I knew where my Death Star belonged.”

I smiled at the memory. I remember being daddy’s girl back then and it was thanks to him and my brother I’d fallen in love with Star Wars in the first place. Tony looked at me, then back at the necklace and shook his head handing the necklace back. “Here, I can’t take something that important from you. I know how much it means to have a memory to hold onto of someone that’s mostly gone.” I shook my head, “No, Tony. It’s okay really. Take it, I meant it. Thanks for the thought but I really want you to have it.” He hesitated a moment and nodded. He put it on over his head and looked up at me. “Thank you. It means a lot that you trust me with something so important. And it really is an amazing gift.” He smiled at me, the biggest smile that I’ve ever seen. It lit up his face, even with the bags under his eyes from lack of sleep, that smile made him look amazingly handsome. I blushed at the thought, thinking I probably looked like a dumb fan just talking to the most amazing guy in the world. “I’m really glad you like it. I was afraid you wouldn’t.” “Are you kidding? I’m pretty sure this is the best gift that has ever been given to me by someone.” I laughed. “Okay, don’t just say that because it’s what I want to hear. I’m pretty sure it is not the best.” He shook his head. “Believe me it really is. I’ve been given action figures, drawings, Legos, candy, turtles, stuffed toys, but this is actually the first necklace I’ve ever received. And it truly is awesome beyond words.” I swear his smile was lighting up the whole world, or maybe just my world, in any way, I was glad to know he liked my gift. “Well thanks. That makes me feel good.”