Following In His Footsteps

Chapter Six

Jordan opened the door with his head on an angle. "Ace? What're you doing here? Its so early..." he said. "I know, I'm sorry. Is Shayley there?" I asked. "He is still asleep, just like every other normal human being" Jordan said with a smile as he stepped aside.
"Thanks" I said and walked to where Shayley was sleeping peacefully. I crawled into the bunk and Shayley began to stir. "Shay" I whispered. "Hmmm?" Shayley mumbled and opened his eyes slightly. "Alice, what're you doing?" he mumbled. "I don't feel great" was all I said. He k we what I meant.
He wrapped an arm around me and I cuddled into his chest as we fell back asleep again. Nothing romantic, though, we always cuddled when either of us wasn't feeling emotionally great. Shayley's cuddles are the best.
I woke up hours later and Shayley was still there but on his phone. "Hey Ace" Shayley said. "Hey Shay. I hate to cuddle and leave but I do have to get going" I said. I had a big day today. "No problem. Love you" he said and kissed my forehead. "Love you too" I said and kissed his cheek.
I got off the bus and back on my own. Everyone was asleep except for Phil who was on the couch in his phone.
"Where have you been?" he asked. "Sleeping" I answered truthfully. "Have sex?" he asked. "Nope" I answered. "Good" he nodded and went back to his phone. "I wont tell your dad you were with Shayley" he said. "How did you-" I said but he cut me off. "I heard you crying. I know what you do after you cry. Don't worry, I didn't see anything" he said.
"You're the best" I said and kissed his cheek. "I know" he smiled.
That day I went around to buy merch since I so desperately needed more. I bought a few of Dayshell's merch and some Capture The Crown and Crown The Empire stuff, too. Pierce The Veil had some cool things but dad owned the pieces I liked, so I could just wear those. Sleeping With Sirens merch wasn't anything up my alley so I found myself at Chelsea Grin tent.
"Hey looser" I said to Alex Koehler. "Hey short stuff. would you mind staying back for three hours and being merch girl? Our guy is running late" he asked. "Really?" I groaned. "Please? I'll buy you lunch" Alex pleaded with a puppy face. "You had me at please. but, sure, you can get me lunch as well" I smiled. "Thanks" he said and kissed my cheek, jogging off. "Aww are you and Alex dating?" a fan asked, holding money. "Nope" I said. "Oops sorry" she said. "No problem. Can i get you anything?" I asked. "Yeah that shirt there please" she said, pointing to a shirt with their latest album artwork across the front. "Here you go" I said, handing it to her. "And here you go" she said, handing me money. I laughed with her then she walked away.
Later on, I got a text. "Hey its Jake. We ran into each other moshing to Chelsea Grin. Are you free today?"
I wrote back, "Not today sorry, helping Alex with merch. Maybe another time though?". "Uhh probably not. Later" he wrote. What the heck? I wrote back, "Um OK". He didn't talk again the whole day.
After helping Alex I wandered around and heard Crown The Empire performing. I walked around backstage and saw something I never thought I'd see...