I fell in love with a boy at the rock show (An ATL/Zack Merrick FanFic)

Pt. 6

By the time we reached the Kia Soul stage a huge crowd had already formed stretching all the way back to the sound tent. It was going to be impossible to find Braeden with that many people around! I looked in my bag for the CD I bought earlier and found the number scrawled on the post-it note to send him a text with my location. Before I could even hit send I felt a tap on my shoulder and a hand wrap around my waist to spin me around. My dark knight had found me like there was nobody else there.

“Looking for me?” He asked, removing his hand from my shoulder but not my waist. His forwardness was surprising to me, but I didn’t pull away. I liked the feeling of being sought after; it didn’t come along a lot. Why not live it up a little today? Courtney gave me a nod and wink of approval, noticing the gesture as well. He smelled like sunblock and sweat, a summer au de perfume.

“Yeah, I was. How did you find me in this crowd?” I asked, “Sheer luck I’m guessing?”

“Nah, I could tell it was you by your ponytail and your neon shirt. And who could forget that smile.” He complimented me while pulling me in closer. I could see the envy in the girl’s eyes around me. It wasn’t until then that I noticed just how attractive Braeden was; though slimmer than most guys he still had definition to his arms and legs. There was a sparkle in his piercing green eyes and his smile showed such sincerity. Not to mention his chestnut brown hair fell to just the right spot to remind you of any skateboarder or punk rocker. I touched his arm and it quivered at my trace.

“Oh, are you this sweet to all potential fans?” I quipped, “Because you don’t have to try so hard. “

“I’m only this sweet to the fans I think deserve it. Why else did you think I wanted to meet up with you again?” He seemed confused.

“I don’t know, I guess I just don’t get this much attention that often” I shyly admitted. I couldn’t believe I was admitting this to some guy I had only met a few hours ago. Something about him just made me feel so comfortable; maybe that’s why I approached him in the first place.

“Well, I don’t see why not! Cute girl, who loves Batman and listens to some amazing bands? That sounds like the complete package to me.” He took his free hand and twirled a piece of my hair around his finger. A chill went down my spine as it does any time someone plays with my hair. I couldn’t help but to nuzzle myself closer into him.

“Oh stop, there’s so much more to me than that!” I retort, laughing to reassure him I wasn’t saying that in an upset way.

“I’d like to know more. First things first, what’s your favorite New Found Glory song?”

“Like that even has to be asked, ‘My Friends Over You’ followed very closely by ‘Anthem of the Unwanted.’” I smile, trying to imagine in my head what the songs will sound like live in just a few minutes.

“That’s it, we’re soulmates! That is the exact same answer I would give.” He replied offering up his hand for a high five. I loved how he could switch from the confident guy to the dorky guy so quickly. It reminded me a lot of myself, or at least how I saw myself.

Before I could say anything someone began a steady thumping beat on the drum set and New Found Glory came out in their matching black and yellow basketball-esque uniforms sporting their band name on the front and their last names on the back. They started playing “Summer Fling, Don’t Mean a Thing” and Braeden lipsynched the whole song to me like he was trying out for American Idol.

            “Now if Simon were here you might not get your ticket to Hollywood…lucky for you I’m the only judge here and you’re too cute to deny” I handed him an imaginary ticket and he jumped and down like a kid going to Disneyworld. I couldn’t help but start laughing at his silly nature. We spent the rest of their set jumping around, screaming our lungs out, and enjoying how well NFG could put on a show. Finally at the end they were ready to play our favorite song.

            “Alright guys, this will be our last one. I better see everybody crowd surfing to this one! I STILL PICK MY FRIENDS OVER YOU!” Pundik wailed into the microphone before the band started the song. From every angle bodies were being thrust over the crowd. I tried my best to support the fans above me but I was simply too weak to keep them up. Before I could even duck, Braeden was clung close so he could catch anyone who put me in danger. I rested my head back on his chest and could feel his heart thumping with the bass line. As the song ended and the coast was clear he wrapped my arms around me and kissed me on the forehead. I swayed in his arms for a little bit until I felt a tap on my shoulder; Courtney reminding me we had important places to be.

            “I hate to break up all this puppy love but, come on Ash, we have to go! All Time Low is playing in a half hour!” Courtney pleaded.

            “You guys going to watch ATL? Can I come with?” Braeden asked.

            “Well, we kind of have these..” I pointed to the laminated backstage pass tucked into my tank top, “and we only have enough for the three of us.” His face fell a little bit.   

            “Oh… well then I guess this might be it for today. Can we keep in touch though?” His eyes pleaded me to say yes.

            “Of course we will! And if you guys play a show around, I’ll be sure to be there.” I promised before wrapping my arms around him for a big hug. He squeezed me back and nuzzled his face into my hair before letting me go and walking off towards the kleen kanteen station.

            “You’ll always be my batgirl Ashley!” He shouted off in the distance before disappearing in the crowd. I was kind of sad to see him leave but how could I be sad when it was time to see All Time Low play for the fourth time? And even better, Zack wanted me next to him! Braeden is a sweetheart but Zack is my dream guy. I grabbed both my best friends’ hands and skipped off towards the backstage entrance. It was time to party with the only boys I could ever want to rock with!