✔︎ Simple Beginnings || Zach Herron

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The man that sat next to me shook me awake thankfully, I opened my eyes forgetting where I was but instantly remembered. I jumped out of my seat and took a peek around. Apparently, the man and I were the last on the plane. So once the man had grabbed his things I ran out of the plane straight to baggage claim. 

P: JONAH

P: I am here

J: aye!

J: the boys and I are at Starbucks right by the beach, who's picking you up?

P: its okay, the airport is only a mile away from there, I can run!

J: damn then, okay see you soon

As the suitcase thing went around I became impatient; I walked around to the closest I could get to where all of the things are and waited. It took five minutes for me to see my items and right when I saw it I was off. 

Running through the streets of la felt freeing, this was the first time I'd been out of my hometown. The closer I got to the ocean the more it felt marvellous. The crisp salty aroma of the air and the sound of hundreds of people talking and children laughing made it feel like I wanted to be out here forever.

Around the corner, I could practically hear the boys laughing about something. With me suitcase following behind me, soon the coffee shop was in view. My adrenalin was racing; my heart was beating a million times a minute until my hands were about to open the doors. I hesitated, scared that maybe they faked missing me, what if Jack hates me now? The thoughts disappeared faster than they came in and the second I opened the door I froze.

I looked around the small shop for only a few seconds when our eyes met; Jack was sitting in the far corner of the store behind the others yet he was the first person I could see. His eyes peered into mine with the emotion of sorrow; Jack seemed upset yet happy all at once.  He jumped up out of his chair and ran towards me; he hugged me so tight I couldn't breathe. I tapped his shoulder causing him to back up,

"Paige, why are you here?" Jack asked still smiling.

"well, I mostly wanted to see you!" 

The rest of the boys joined in on our hug and I laughed, everything in that moment felt perfect. We all left Starbucks and went over to the beach across from where it was; I was still dragging my suitcase along the sand. Corbyn noticed my struggle and snatched my bag from me running away with it. I chased him screaming and laughing wanting to get it back.

Corbyn got to their truck and threw it into the back, I laughed and jumped onto his back.

"onward Horse!" I yelled, Corbyn obeyed and ran back to the group with me attached to his back. He let me down as we were only a few meters from the rest of the boys. Once we got back to the car the sun was already setting, we had spent an entire day together at the beach; it was perfect. The drive home was just as exciting, we blasted their music and sung our hearts out. It was intimidating being surrounded by such amazing singers, but they wouldn't judge. 

As the car pulled up to the house I couldn't believe my eyes, yes Jack has shown me pictures of the house before but seeing it in real life was a completely different experience. I grabbed my bag from the trunk and walked inside in awe. Corbyn, Jonah, Daniel and jack all walked passed me laughing at my astonishment into the kitchen. I left my bag at the front and followed Daniel to where the rest of them were. On the counter was a mountain of cheez its, Oreos, watermelon snacks, and sour patch kids. I watched the teenage boys take them according to foods and lunch upon them. I noticed nobody took the Oreos, so I grabbed a bag of them and stuffed my face; the boys all looked at me confused.

"what," I said muffled by all the crumbs "Oreos are my favourite." Jonah rolled his eyes and poured himself a cup of coffee, at six pm may I add. I walked over to the living room and plopped down on the couch still ingulfed in cookies. The boys came in the living room one by one until we were all chilling eating our snacks. It was around nine fifteen when Corbyn and Jonah went to bed, and Jack and Daniel and I were left here. The food was gone, we all felt fat. I had got up to bring my bag to my room when I noticed it was gone.

"Hey Jack, Daniel. did one of you guys bring my suitcase somewhere?"

"Oh, yeah I did. It's up in my room since its the biggest; there's space for a mattress on the floor." Daniel explained, I took a sigh of relief and walked up towards his room. I could hear the noises coming from Jonah and Corbyn's rooms; I walked quieter while passing them even if I know not even a whale could wake them up.

Once I got into Daniel's room I found my things on top of the mattress I guess I was going to sleep on for however long I was planning to stay. I never really did figure how long I was going to be in LA. I unzipped my bag and right at the top, where I left it was Zach's hoodie. It felt weird seeing it again knowing he could get home at any time but I took off my t-shirt and slipped the oversized thing over me. I walked back downstairs to hear more than two voices coming from the living room. I turned the corner to see...