(2) Overnight Sensation: An All Time Low Fanfiction Romance

Chapter 37: Practice

        "You're really just thinking too much about it, Stella," Zack chuckled while taking a sip of his water. I raised my eyebrows at him while he propped his feet on the coffee table. Lauren laid into his side, and his arm fell around her comfortably.

        I wanted to smile at how cute that was, but I was so frustrated that there was no smile on my face. Practice for the last two nights hadn't helped one bit, and this third was enough to want to end my life.

        "Says the eighteen year old bass player with seventy-five years under his belt," I muttered softly, running my fingers through my hair. Alex laughed from behind me, resting his hands on my shoulders. I sat on the stool that Alex brought outside for me that made my head only reach the middle of his chest. I think they all realized it'd be a long night trying to teach me.

        Kara and Rian had already disappeared, probably headed home because it was nearly midnight and a school night. Rian couldn't help anymore than Kara could because neither of them played guitar. Zack offered to stay and help because he already annouced he was ditching class to sleep and go surfing. Lauren didn't mind sticking around because she had the morning off. She was an extremely smart girl -- taking college classes online at night. She was headed somewhere, and Zack loved how she worked so hard.

        "I've got to head home. My dad just bitched at me because I'm an hour late," Jack pointed his head through the door of the garage. I felt guilty that I kept him here so late.

        "Tell your dad I'm sorry," I said in a blameworthy voice. He smiled and shook his head, waving it off.

        "Don't worry. I like to piss him off. Plus, once I tell my mom it was because I was helping you, she'll yell at my dad," this amused him. "The great Barakat family. Gotta' love us."

        "Night, Jack!" I waved from my seat, while everyone else said their byes as well. He made an exit out the door and it was just us four, still trying to get me to learn this stupid song.

        "You're really just nervous to perform in front of people. I think you should practice at home alone, or just with Alex or something," Lauren suggested, yawning. Zack continued to drink his water and let his eyes droop. I felt bad for keeping them up so late; the only person that needed to still be awake was me.

     "I don't know why you ar freaking out so much. You do fine when you just sing, and when you just play. It'll sound amazing when you do both," Zack tried to encourage me, but I wasn't buying it. I didn't want to play guitar in this stupid perfromance anmore. I just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry orever.

        "It's the same chords over and over again. All you have to do is make sure you sing when you hit the right chord and not think about it," Alex's finger's still put pressure on my shoulders, making me relax under his touch.

        "I know, but it's just making me mad," I tried to express to them, but they really didn't understand. Alex and Zack were both amazing at playing and singing, and Lauren's never done either. I just wish I could do it correct once, to see that I've made some sort of progress.

        "You're going to kill it when you're up there and you're excited. I know it," Zack still cheered me on. I smiled at him, trying to take in what he was saying. Hew as such a sweet heart all the time. I have no idea how any girl could've cheated on him before Lauren. All he did was support his friends.

        "Thanks, Zack," I said, leaning my back against Alex's chest.

        "Why don't you guys head home?" Alex offered Lauren and Zack. They didn't seem too against the idea as they stood suddenly, stretching and yawning. I felt bad, keeping everyone here so long. They would all be shit in the morning. Well -- maybe not Jack beacuse he always had energy.