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

Pt. 8

Matt led the three of us around the back of the stage to a golf cart. The cart was there to take us to the vast expanse of neutral-colored tour buses the bands use as to not reveal which band is staying where.

“It makes it easier for us,” Matt explained, “So we don’t have to worry about a swarm of girls waiting outside every morning. That doesn’t mean that we don’t get it from time to time though.”

“Never underestimate a girl’s love for her favorite band, Fly. It makes her do crazy things.” I replied. The nights I spent up late watching all the All Time Low Buzznet videos, reading articles, interviews, blogging about my favorite songs, all because their music spoke to me so deeply.

“Makes her put her phone number on the back of a bottle of Ketchup?” He teased.

“Yeah, I guess it does. But that was more because of the love of her favorite bassist.” I answered him, brushing the hair out of my face and looking down at the ground, giving a sly smile.

“So I have to ask, most people go for Alex and Jack. Why Zack out of the four of them?” Flyzik questioned. I wasn’t sure if he was sent to get information. I bet that Jack just wanted to know why I didn’t pick him.

“Well, Rian’s a sweetheart but he has Cassadee and they’re adorable. Jack is fun, but I think he might be too much for me to handle as anything more than a friend. Alex is a wonderful person inside and out but I just feel a connection to Zack. It’s beyond the looks, though they don’t hurt, “I stopped to chuckle for a second, “But he’s a little more quiet and reserved. I want to sit down and learn all about him, I want to understand him. I just feel like there’s so much mystery to him that draws me in closer.” I stopped and twirled a piece of hair around my pointer finger. It was then I realized that Matt had stopped the golf cart outside a tour bus and was now staring directly at me. “What?”

“You know, I don’t normally approve of the girls that the guys bring on the bus….but I think Zack did right this time. You’re exactly what he’s been looking for.” I nearly started to tear up at Matt’s kind words. He smiled and led us to the front door of the bus, “Let me go on first, make sure they’re decent. Boys! Zack’s girl and her friends are here! You better be dressed!” We followed him up the stairs and into the small ‘living room’ lounge area. Rian and Alex were sitting down playing Batman: Arkham City in front of the small TV above the driver’s seat while Jack sat at the kitchen table with his head against the cool laminate tabletop, obviously catching a little nap. Zack was nowhere to be found which I thought was a little weird. I thought he had called me back to see me? I had to be overthinking it, I do this a lot. There must be a good explanation as to why Zack wasn’t here.

“Hey guys, amazing set tonight! Where’s Zack?” I asked while Alex and Rian paused their game to hang out with the girls. Jack, becoming aware of us arriving and groggily opened his eyes.

“Oh hey Zack’s lady friend, what’s up?” He picked up his head and propped it up on his hand supported by his elbow.

“It’s Ashley and I’m doing fine. You were great out there tonight!” I smiled and put my hand out for a high five. He tried meeting my hand but he was still too tired to have any hand-eye coordination.

“Hey guys, have you heard from Matt yet? When are the girls getting her-“ Zack called from behind the curtain, pulling it back to reveal himself holding a terrycloth towel around his waist before realizing we were there.  Water glistened down his chest in pearly beads. I couldn’t help but take a good long look at him. Without even realizing it I bit down slightly on my lower lip.

“Ooooh she likes it Zack, now take her back to your bunk and claim her!” Jack yelled.

“OH SHUT UP!” I lightly slapped his shoulder, the familiar blush creeping across my cheeks.  

“I’ll be right back, let me throw some clothes on. “ Zack disappeared behind the curtain again, reappearing shortly after in a pair of basketball shorts and a solid grey tank top. “Sorry about that before, I didn’t want to be all sweaty and gross when you guys got here.”

“It’s fine, I’m sure that I’m not the freshest right about now” I replied, wiping my face with the back of my hand and rubbing the sweat off on my shorts. After a long day at Warped, nobody came out clean. It was all about the sweat, dirt, and occasionally the blood that came with the chaos of the mosh pits. Zack didn’t seem to see that though. This is what he was used to, what he’s spent all summer doing. I could have been all dressed up to the nines right now and he would have seen me just the same.

“Don’t worry about it, you look…beautiful” he looked directly into my eyes and pushed a wisp of hair out of my face. A chill ran down my spine, it was all just too perfect. “Want to go grab something to eat? He asked me, and then looked up to the guys who all nodded in agreement.

Seeing Warped after the last fans leave is breathtaking. As roadies worked to break down the stages and tents, the bands came together in the amphitheater for catering to set up dinner. We got in line with the boys and grabbed some burgers before finding a spot to talk and hang out with the band along with some of the others they’d seen perform earlier. It was so surreal to just hang out with them and discuss moments from the day while joking around and playing games. I could have honestly stayed there forever. All the while I got closer and closer to Zack; sitting with him, lying across his lap, and talking in the spare moments we got alone. When we were together I felt like nothing else mattered but the two of us in that moment. The more we talked the more I learned about him, the more I fell head over heels for this guy. He was so much more than a rock star, he was an absolute sweetheart. The rest of the guys seemed to like me too, whispering comments to each other and giving Zack thumbs up when he made moves on me. It was like they were coaching him, though he didn’t need it. I would have fallen into his arms the first second I saw him. Soon the sun set and twilight fell over Hartford, signaling the bands to take the parties back to the buses. Looking towards my friends, Courtney and Maria said it was time for this dream to end.

“We’ve gotta get back home, it’s a long ride.” Complained Maria.

“And we have to drop you back off at school!” Courtney added.

I looked to Zack and pouted, “I guess this means I have to go…”

“Wait, why don’t you stay a little longer and we’ll take you to school in the morning. We have to travel that way anyways, it’s alright isn’t it Matt?” Zack looked towards Matt with pleading puppy dog eyes.

“Well…I don’t know we have a pretty tight schedule tomorrow” Flyzik said.

“We can leave earlier then! I’ll drive if I have to!” He fought for me to stay; I clung to Zack’s side and gave my own set of puppy dog eyes to Matt.

“Uhm….well….oh alright, I can’t compete with young love” He said teasing. Zack wrapped his arms around my waist picking me up and spinning me around.

“Yay! Sleepover! Sleepover!” Jack clapped, jumping up and down.

We left the amphitheater and grabbed my bags out of Courtney’s car to transfer over to the tour bus. Courtney came over and gave me a huge hug before leaving.

“You have fun! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” She whispered.

“Well that gives me a lot of leeway then!” I gave her a light punch to the arm.

“Exactly” she said, winking at me and leaving with Maria after saying goodbye and thank you to the boys.

I felt a hand lace its fingers with mine and turn me around, it was Zack.

“Come with me, I want to show you something.” He tossed my last bag into the bus and shooed away the rest of the boys before guiding me back onto the concert grounds with nothing but the twinkling stars overhead.