over it...

Chapter 1 : Hoodies and Repressed Feelings

Vic's POV :

I left the trailer early to head down to the stage. There was still one group left before we went on. SOmetimes, it helped calm my nerves to watch. I know, I know... 'This band formed 6 years ago. How is he still nervous?' But, you know what? It happens. Mistakes can always be made. Plus, these people paid good money to be here. WHy not give them one hell of an amazing show?
ANd that's exactly what I found when I got to the stage. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. I needed someone else to witness this...
I flipped out my phone, calling the first number I saw. "Jaime." I nearly screamed into the receiver.
"What if I say no?" His voice came out scratchy.
"You can't just be waking up... How are you still asleep?" It was 5 in the afternoon. We'd been here since 11... "Nevermind. I need you to come down here. Right now." I tried not to sound frantic.
Jaime just groaned loudly into the phone.
"Trust me!" I urged him. "You need to see this."
As the song ended, he reluctantly agreed.
"What the hell is up, Salt Lake City?" A voice boomed out from the speakers. Her talking voice was almost as magical as her singing. She was so full of energy, which I admired. As she went on to introduce the group, using the crowd's energy to fuel the performance. I felt like I was part of the show- not just observing.
'BANNED' was well into their second song by the time Jaime finally made his way over. Slowly walking towards me, he gawked at the stage, nearly running over a group of teens who were scurrying towards the raging melody. He looked back and forth a few times, gazing from the stage to me before questioning, "Is this your pressing matter that stole me from my nap>? You know I didn't sleep last night..."
I laughed, recalling memories of last night. We had hung out with the guys from Of Mice and Men. We may have overdone the drinking a bit... Especially Alan and Jaime. "Shit, I forgot. How are you doing? Are you okay??" I feigned concern.
Jaime shot me a look, sending me into a fit of laughter.
"But, yeah. This girl. Her voice... I mean, the whole band, but..." My rambling trailed off as my eyes drifted back to her.
"You're right." He stood next to me, watching. "And, you're drooling." He jumped away right as I turned to smack his shoulder, knowing me all too well. After his cackling ceased, his fae perked up as he stared me down. "We should do a song with her. Your voices would sound so perfect together..."
I pretended to think about it, trying to mask that a duet had been my first thought the second I heard her voice. "That'd be awesome."
"Cool. Talk to her tonight. I'm going to get ready." He clapped me on the back and walked away.
I nodded, following him to the stage to grab my guitar. I needed to focus. After all, we had a job to do. And for that, I could not wait.

Charlotte's POV :

I stood center stage, heaving, trying to push away the hair that clung to my forehead before giving up. It didn't matter, right now. We had just finished our set, and I was more alive than ever. "Thank you so much!" We ran off stage, exchanging sweaty hugs. The crew quickly began swapping equipment on stage, prepping for the next group as they waited patiently, making last minute adjustments. I thought I was being paranoid when I kept catching glances from one of them until Katie came up to me. Her pink outfit was drenched in sweat, though I don't think she seemed to care.
"Char, he is totally staring at you!" She giggled, gently poking my arm.
"I don't look that bad, do I?" I tried to catch a glimpse of my reflection in my phone's small screen.
"Oh, hush. You look great." Katie was bubbly, the built up energy from the show caused her to talk a little too loudly.
I shushed her and the four of us walked back to the bus. Drew dibsed first shower on the bus, so I opted to use the communal showers this venu happened to have, deciding the wait to maybe have water left wasn't worth it. Plus, not having to worry about sharing a tank of water meant I could take my time.
By the time I got back, Liz had a fire rolling in our little portable grill. Drew had broken out the whiskey, and Katie was sitting on some girl's lap. I pretended not to notice, accepting a drink from Drew. I had a low tolerance, so after two healthy swigs, I was rolling.
The four of us (and Katie's random seat warmer) sat around our small fire, killing time and celebrating our first show at our first Warped Tour. We laughed at memories of years past, we sang, and I even danced, just a little. What I wasn't expecting, however, was the guy who was staring at me backstage. But, sure enough, here he was. He slowly approached our small party, smiling.
Surprised and more than a little drunk, I was in no state to converse. I stood to meet his gaze, scrunching my face to focus.
"Hey," He grinned, extending a warm hand. "I wanted to talk to you, quick. Do you have a second?"
I took his hand, steadying myself.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Katie jumped up. "Hey, man. This is a private gathering. Band only."
I turned, maybe a little too quickly. "Really, Katie?" I was dumbfounded. "Then who the hell is that?" I pointed to the girl whose lap she just leaped off to interject her stupid opinion. Katie hadn't even mentioned her name.
"I... Sadie?" She stared at the girl who replied only with a meek, barely audible "Shelby..."
"Right. Sorry baby. I'll make it up later." Katie walked back over to the poor girl, seemingly forgetting our argument over our 'private' party.
I rolled my eyes, ignoring the sudden churning of alcohol in my stomach and averting my eyes back to the stranger. "What do you want?" I tried to read his expression, but quickly gave up. I didn't really care anymore.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" He nodded to a more quiet, less Katie filled area.
I shrugged, following his lead. We walked in silence until we reached a random picnic nable across the lot. I sat in a huff, drunk and annoyed. He sat next to me, in silence for a moment. It wasn't until that silence hit that I realized how miserable I was.
"So, i realize we didn't do names, earlier. I'm Vic." His gaze was soft, almost refreshing.
"Charlotte." I stared off into the distance, letting what was left of the sun warm my face. I closed my eyes for a second and the world grew dizzy. It was nice to not have to think, but the spinning was throwing me off.
"So, I saw you guys play before we went on, and... It was amazing. Your voice, I..." He trailed off.
"Thanks." I wasn't much for words tonight, I guess.
"The reason I wanted to talk was I, well, we want to write a song and have you featured on it. More than featured... Fully involved. Interested?" He stared at me with a gaze only comparable to a puppy's.
By now, the alcohol and feelings were setting in. My head began to rush around my, the world spinning as my vision blurred. Suddenly, I realized how cold the night had grown. I drew my arms around me, trying to hide my shivering. "I don't know," I slurred. "There's lots going on..."
I felt something cover my shoulders. "You're shaking," He mumbled. He helped my arms into a... sweater? I wasn't sure what was going on. God, my arms were numb. "Are you feeling okay?" His voice was distant as I stared into the sky.
I shrugged, though my arms barely moved.
"Lets... Let's get you back." He helped me up and back to my bus.
Drew and Liz were gone Katie and Shelby were all over each other. She didn't even notice me staring.
"Come on," he whispered, helping me onto the bus. "Which one is yours?"
I pointed to a bunk, shuffling my feet. He helped me climb in before disappearing. When he returned, he handed me a bottle of water and a string cheese from the fridge. "Make sure you drink this, tonight. Sips. Okay?"
I nodded, leaning back and taking a huge bite out of the string cheese, defiling everything holy. Only a madman or a drunk bitch would eat a string cheese like that...
"And, hey," He handed me a folded up piece of paper. "Text me? When you wake up?"
I stared at the piece of paper, barely able to tell the squiggles apart in my state. I nodded, slowly, my eyelids growing heavier by the second as I over-chewed the cheese.
He turned to leave before I realized something.
"Hey, wait!" I called out, not sure if the words came out at all.
He turned back, an almost hopeful look in his eye.
"Your sweater..." I struggled to even unzip the big, baggy, black thing.
He chuckled, turning towards the door. "You can give it back next time you see me."
"I... but..." I struggled to form a sentence.
Vic shook his head and walked out, only turning back to say, "good night."
I layed in my bunk, the world spinning around me. I had tucked the paper away so I didn't lose it. My last, waking thought before I laid back, the sweater pooling around me. I thought I'd be too big for it to do that. I sipped the water, trying not to spill. I was silently thankful he left me with that.
Not knowing what time it was, I woke to Katie and Shelby sloppily making their way towards her bunk. I squeezed my eyes shut, letting a heavy sleep take over my body so I didn't have to listen to... That.
My sleep was choppy and interrupted, as drunk sleep usually is.
I dreamt about Katie. About fighting. And about her parading around with any girl she could find. And then, I dreamt about Vic. The dreams were vague, as I had just barely met him. But they were warm. And they felt like home.