Pt 7

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It was a mad house trying to get to the backstage entrance. Scantily clad fan girls hung on the security guards trying to get a special pass with no luck. I tucked my pass into my bra until I reached the guards in fear someone would rip it off my neck. Sometimes these girls can be vicious! After pushing my way through I reached a large menacing looking guard in a plain black tee, shorts and sunglasses with his muscular arms crossed in front of his chest.

            “Listen, unless you have a pass, there’s no way you’re getting through here. You’ll have a better shot if you go find your place up front now.” He droned on, it was obviously not the first time he had to explain this to a desperate fan. Before he could try to usher us away we pulled out our passes and flashed them to the guard. He opened the gate and sent us to another guard a few feet in before any other girls could try and push their way through.

            “Alright ladies, Stage left or right? Left being Zack’s side and Right being Jack’s side. Alex and Rian both stage basically center if you were looking to be close to a particular guy.” The guard explained. He was very nice about directing girls to their favorite guy and was accommodating to anyone with questions. I really appreciated how sweet he was.

            “Well we got these passes from Zack, so we’d like to be Zack side please” I smiled to the guard.

            “Oh, YOU’RE the girl. Right this way, follow me.” The guard instructed. I was the girl? Did Zack tell the guard about me? It couldn’t be, he had so many other girls walk by today. I still couldn’t believe he picked me out of all of them. I tried to wrap this all around my brain as we were led back behind the stage and off to stage left. “Your spot is right by the amp. Zack left you something.” And before I could thank him, he was off helping out the next group of girls.  

Sitting at the amp was a bottle of water, a granola bar, a tanktop and a little note.  “Figured you could use a little snack, it’s been a hot one today. And the shirt’s just a little gift to thank you for mine. The design hasn’t been released yet so you’re the only one who has one. Can’t wait to see you in it! – Zack” My heart raced as I opened up the folded tank to see a picture of a pink bass just like his and straps on the front so it looked as if I were holding his bass and “Merrick is my man --  Amerrickan” printed on the back. I was so excited I couldn’t speak. I held the shirt to my face and took a deep breath in; it even smelled like him. With my girls spotting me I threw the new tank over my head and slipped off my neon top, tucking it into my drawstring backpack. It fit me perfectly and I looked so cute in it! I took a swig of my water and started playing the fake bass across my stomach, rocking out in my head to “Time Bomb” like I was in the car earlier. Courtney and Maria giggled at how into my imaginary show I was.

“Your form could be a little better, but I like your showmanship!” I heard from behind me. I turned around to see Zack ready to perform in a pair of form fitting shorts and bright Osiris sneakers, still shirtless of course. Taking in his whole body made me weak in the knees, he was drop dead gorgeous!

“Thanks!” I stammered, “Maybe you could teach me sometime? I actually don’t know how to play anything else but Clarinet.” I couldn’t help but stare at his washboard abs.

“Maybe I will teach you, if you could remember that my face is up here.” he joked lifting my chin up with two fingers and adjusting my gaze straight into his eyes.   

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I-“ I started apologizing as I blushed like a maniac.

“It’s okay! It’s okay! I mean, I couldn’t stop staring at you either…” He admitted, getting quiet and shy again. He may be a big rock star, but Zack was always a shy kid at heart. I could really relate to this side of him, and couldn’t help but smile.

“Guys it’s time to go on! Go, go,go!” Matt Flyzik came by telling all the guys to get on stage. I hadn’t even realized the rest of the band was there with Zack, nudging him and whispering little comments to eachother.

“Good luck out there, not like you need it. I’ll be right here.” I got up on my tip toes and wrapped my arms around his neck, bringing us forehead to forehead. He smiled and pulled me in tighter before a skinny arm pulled him away.

“Dude, any other time I wouldn’t be a cockblock but we have to go!” yelled Jack, pulling Zack onto the stage. I pouted and made my way back to my spot, grabbing my granola bar and taking a huge bite into it. Chocolate chips melted on my tongue; how did he know this was my favorite? Then again, who didn’t love chocolate chip granola bars?

Alex got the crowd revved up with a few of their older hits along with his and Jack’s usual sexual banter. The crowd loved it, as they always do; it was what they were known for of course. Zack smiled and laughed along, looking back at me from time to time. I used my prime spot to get amazing pictures of all the guys and the massive crowd.

“Alright guys, I wanna see you all partying to this one! Circle pit around the vans tent, scream along if you know the words, dance like it’s your last chance!” Alex hyped the song, watching the crowd’s excitement growing.

“Hey Alex?” A voice spoke up.

“Yeah Zack? You don’t normally speak up, is everything alright?” Alex asked concerned.

“Yeah I’m fine. I was just wondering, can I dedicate this to someone tonight?” Zack replied back. Jack gave Zack a smirk from across the stage and then looked at me.

“You wanna give your lady friend a shoutout?” Jack teased as Zack pushed the hair out of his face.

“Sure man, I guess I can let you give a little shoutout just this once.” Alex gave Zack permission.

“Alright, this one goes out to an awesome girl, she knows who she is. You better jam out like you were earlier. It looks cute on you.” He said into the microphone and looked back to me. Once I stopped blushing, I put my hands down towards my imaginary bass, ready to play right along with them. I could not believe that he did that for me! I could only imagine what song was about to play…

She works for the weekend, mix tape of her favorite band, tearin’ up the radio, lost in the stereo sound. She’s trouble in a tank top, pretty little time bomb blowin’ up, take you down. Living in the radio lost in the stereo’s sound…” Alex’s voice seemed to caress every word before sending them out to the fans.

I was lost in their sound, dancing around and occasionally playing my fake bass. Me and the girls were singing along and Courtney shook my shoulders shocked at what was going on. I could barely believe it myself; pinching my wrist from time to time to make sure I wasn’t still in my bed back home.

When the song ended they closed the set with their usual “Dear Maria” and me and Courtney even got Alex’s attention, letting him know of Maria’s name. He walked over and sang to her for a little while, blowing her a kiss as the tune came to an end. It was the best performance I’d ever seen them play in 4 years. It didn’t hurt that I was side stage next to Zack either.

The boys came off the stage on our side and the backstage fans began to swarm around the boys. Zack made eye contact with me and tried to reach me but the crowd of girls was already getting to be too much.

“Wait here for a minute. I’ll text you” He whispered before being whisked away by security and fans. I held my friends back and walked over to grab a setlist off the stage. A new text arrived in my inbox seconds later, “I’m sending Matt to come get you and your friends. Hold tight :]“ I shared the text with Courtney and Maria and we found a place to sit and chat about all the exciting moments that day until we saw Matt looking around for us.        

“Zack’s girl and friends! Right this way!” Matt gestured off the stage with flailing arms, “Oh and thanks again for the Frisbee by the way!” he smiled.

“No problem, and the name’s Ashley by the way. You don’t have to call me Zack’s girl.” I nudged him.

“But you liiiiiike being called Zack’s girl, don’cha?” he winked. It did make me feel good. I knew that my grin was all he needed to see to know my answer. “Come on Zack’s girl and friends. The boys are waiting for ya. “  

I fell in love with a boy at the rock show (An ATL/Zack Merrick FanFic)Where stories live. Discover now