"Cmon man, just fuckin concentrate and get it right. Get your mind on the goddamn job shannon"...Jared shouts in the general direction of the studio. Shannon huffs and puffs, but sucks it up and plays the riff again and again and again, smacking the drumsticks down so hard hes liable to tear through them.
"Shannon....dude, your gonna need another set if u keep this up, chill out man.."... you hear your drum tech and long time friend Kyle trying to calm you down , but Jareds got you so pissed off today this is the only therapy that will work. You give Kyle a nod and he knows you appreciate his help but that you just gotta thrash this out. Jared doesn't even stick around. Disappears on yet another phone call or email who knows. A good 35 mins later he reappears and asks if you have managed it yet. It's the final straw and Kyle sees it coming. He backs out the room quick as a flash bumping into you on his route out. "Whoa Kyle watch where you are going" you squeal as he nearly knocks flying the green tea Jared ordered you get him.
"Fuck sorry Jess, but it's about to go off big time in there and I think it's best to disappear if you get me".
He blushes sweetly at banging into you and you can't stay mad at him all pink faced and that mop of blonde hair piled on top of his head. "Oh god what are they arguing about now. It's constant right now. Shannon looks well pissed. Fuck it. I have to go in, he wants to speak to me about next week's gigs, wish me luck."
He does just that and disappears to the relative safety of the kitchen where I know Stevie and shayla are having lunch already. I listen carefully to the screaming and shouting back and forth between the brothers, trying to pick the right moment to break it up. Thankfully I don't have to as there's an almighty crash of a drum and cymbal hitting the floor and shannon storms out past me without a glance or a word. Bracing myself I creak open the door to see Jared hunched over the mixing desk. It's so quiet you could literally hear a pin drop. I bump the door with my elbow hitting my funny bone and let out an involuntary yelp followed by a few expletives . It breaks the tension in the room and Jared can't help but snigger. " you ok there jess" he asks chuckling away as I try to soothe my elbow while still balancing his bloody green tea and the mountain of paperwork we had to sort through. I almost throw the paper work at him, however decide I quite like having a regular paycheck and sit it beside him and hand him his green tea."I'm fine thanks boss, better than you it seems anyway. What's the deal with you guys. This last week's been a nightmare with you guys fighting. It's affecting everyone and we have to travel together next week for a fair amount of time which won't be great if you are trying to kill each other half the time". I look him dead in the eyes waiting for an answer and he just stares me out. " well Jess, first off thank you for my tea, second we are fine, it's just a brother thing and third, don't you ever blink!!!". I keep up the stare matching his dimpled grin and answer with "firstly your welcome, secondly something's off and I need to know and third I don't want to totally burst your bubble today but those baby blues don't work on me boss man, I'm immune". Being the top actor he is he pretends to be wounded through the heart, acting devastated that I can't be won over his usual way. "I would never get my job done otherwise Jared, the way you flirt and we have a shitload of work to get through so drink your tea and let's get the itinerary to your liking so I can book the travel and hotels."
He pouts his trademark pout..."when did you get so bossy Jess. Who taught you. Emma, shayla or joie" . " like I said Jay, immune to your charms, tons to organise and a day to do it, so suck it up. Oh and the girls.....they all warned me hahaha". He gulps his tea and laughs causing him to spit it all over the place. "Jesus jay" I squeal wiping myself and the paperwork off before offering him the towel and settling down to get on.
I think it's.probably been 10 months now I've been working as Jareds assistant since Emma was so busy and being pregnant had pinched joie to help her. Shayla was caught up with adventures stuff too so I had a baptism of fire pretty much just had to get on with it. Throw a workaholic, obsessive compulsive vegan into the mix and yeah, welcome to my life.
We worked for the next three hours deciding the details and then I carried on for the next two after that organising the flights and hotels. It's not just the band, there's everyone that goes along with it plus all the shipping and transport of the stage and equipment and electronics etc. Its pretty full on and the day and sometimes night can get away from you if you are not careful.
I'm sitting in the old part of the base that's not really used much so I tend to get forgotten about and I can work in peace. It's so quiet so when the door scrapes open loudly I get the fright of my life. A very sheepish looking shannon leto pokes his head in and asks if he can come in. I nod and carry on with my work. He kneels down beside me and coughs nervously. I look up to see him blush as he apologises for storming out the room after his argument this afternoon with Jay. "I'm really sorry jez, I should never have ignored you it was his fault not yours. Can you forgive me jez please." Unfortunately for me my immunity does not go for both brothers and I have to admit (only to myself ) that shannon sets off the biggest butterflies every time I see him. I compose myself and look up at him. " do those bags contain Chinese food or not, as this may affect my answer?!"
He laughs as he flops down beside me on the couch, carrier bag on the table, he starts to unwrap it all. "Of course, only the best for the cutest girl here. I am really sorry jez, it was out of order my beefs with Jared, not you.can you forgive me?"
I shove an egg roll in my mouth, nodding my head and he's in stitches. " have you eaten today little bit" he asks in bewilderment as I shake my head no, stuffing another egg roll in.
I nudge him in the ribs with my elbow, joking " stop with the nicknames you.....little bit.....and jez.....What's that for anyway"
He blushes and looks up, not so cocky now....." well I like to think of you as a bit of a jezebel, all work and lots of play. Also your so petite so hence little bit ". He rubs where I nudge his ribs and without thinking I apologise and put my hand on his ribs to soothe it. He's got on a cut out muscle t and my hand grazes his skin. I see him visually flush and squirm on the floor next to me. I brush it off joking with him for hogging the food and tell him I will discuss those nicknames later as im too busy. " you are always busy. Jess it's 2300hrs, your only just eating, sit back and watch a movie with me. You can catch up first thing. I will even help if you need me but please take a rest you will burn out and we need you with this tour coming up.
The food is delicious and I am extremely tired so I give in and spend the next hour or two chilling and watching a movie with him much to his amusement. These letos sure do keep you on your toes.
