Come Around

"He's so cute!" Angie said while they watched All Time Low from the side of the stage. Apparently when Rian said he would put them on the list, he meant he would completely hook them up. And who were they to complain when they found out?

Cassie laughed, "He's a sweetheart too," she said, "Hey, do you think you can get some pictures for the article?"

Angie nodded, "No problem."

Cassie couldn't help but notice Alex constantly glancing in their direction, occasionally messing up the lyrics when he did. Jack kept giving him strange looks before finally saying something in between songs.

"Dude, are you okay?" he said into the microphone.

"I'm fucking great, Bro," Alex replied, not missing a beat. And then to the crowd, he said, "Is everyone out there fucking great too?" The crowd responded with screams that were almost deafening and Alex grinned, "That's fuckin' right. Girls, let's get those bras on stage. This next song is called The Party Scene."

They launched into the song and bras flew in the air and landed on stage. Near the end of the song, Alex reached out and grabbed one as it flew toward him, "That's what I'm talking about," he said. And when they finished the song, he looked over at Cassie, "Hey Cassie, I see your friend taking pictures. You know this is off the record, right?"

It took all her self control to not flip him off. Instead, she simply held her hands up defensively, cursing him in her head. When she said she'd done difficult interviews before, she wasn't lying. But she had never had someone be so continuously rude before.

"What's his deal?" Angie asked, walking back over to her friend and she shrugged, "Did you know him when you were younger?"

"Nope," Cassie said, "I didn't go to the same schools Rian did. I only know him because our parents are friends and we lived next door to each other."

"So weird," she said.

When the guys finished the set, Alex walked off the opposite side of the stage, while the rest of the guys walked toward Cassie and Angie with confused looks.

"Cassie," Rian said, but she cut him off.

"It's cool. I don't care about him," Cassie said.

"Listen," he said, pulling her away from everyone, "Alex thinks you're cute."

"Excuse me?" she said, "Are we in first grade?"

"What?" Rian asked.

"You know, in elementary school, when you like someone, you're mean to them. I mean, honestly, I would've thought someone like Alex would just be all over a girl he thought was cute."

"Well, he usually is."

"So what's different?" she asked, "I mean, not that I care. I just don't understand."

Rian shrugged, "I don't know. There must be something more to it. He never messes up the songs like he did tonight."

"That's the basis of your conclusion?" Cassie asked, "How do you know he isn't just having a bad day?"

"Because I know Alex."

"Cool," she said and decided to change the subject, "You wanna get out of here and get some food? I'm kind of hungry."

He sighed, "Yeah, sure. I just gotta get all my shit packed up."

Cassie walked back over to Angie shaking her head. None of what Rian said really made sense to her.

"Explain to me," Cassie said, "How it makes sense that Alex thinks I'm cute, according to Rian."

"I would believe it," Angie said and Cassie snapped her head in Angie's direction, confusion all over her face, "He's staring at you right now."

"What?" Cassie said and Angie pointed across the stage to where Alex was standing. Sure enough, he was staring at her. She sighed, "My life..."

Angie laughed, "Go talk to him."

"No thanks," Cassie said.

"Oh come on. He's not that bad."

"Maybe not. But I don't care much for his attitude."

Angie looked at Cassie for a minute, "You think he's cute!" she exclaimed.

"I think he's a dick," Cassie said plainly.

"A cute dick, though."

Cassie turned her head to look at her friend, "That statement is so many kinds of wrong. And I don't care to discuss this any further right now."

For once, Angie actually listened and dropped the subject. But possibly only because Rian had finished getting his stuff together and was walking back toward them, Jack in tow.

"I was thinking Jack could come with us," Rian said, "If you don't mind, of course."

Next to her, Angie shook her head and Cassie smiled, "Aww, like a double date?" she asked.

Angie's face tinted pink and Rian laughed, "Well I think if you and I were on a date, it would be incredibly awkward."

Cassie laughed too, "Obviously I meant I wanted Jack to be my date," she said, grabbing Jack's arm and pulling him toward her, "I mean, how could I not?"

Jack grinned, "Yeah, Rian. Don't pretend like you don't want my sexy body."

It was hard for Rian to not laugh, "You mean your prepubescent body? I'll pass," he said. "Can we get out of here now?"

Cassie glanced back across the stage at Alex, who was still staring at her. "Yes, let's," she said, linking arms with Jack.

They ended up at Denny's because no one really felt like trying to find something else that was open. And you just can't go wrong with mozzarella sticks. Jack's phone rang when they were about halfway through the ridiculous amount of appetizers they'd ordered and he went outside to talk to whoever was calling him.

"Were you trying to make Alex mad or something?" Rian asked.

Cassie rolled her eyes, "I told you, I don't care about Alex. I don't even know him. Why would I want to make him mad, as if he hasn't been enough of a dick to me already?"

"You were hanging on one of his best friends right in front of him."

"Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound? I don't know Alex. He doesn't seem to want to get to know me and I don't care to get to know him. So why would you think I was doing anything with Alex in mind? And why the fuck can't we stop talking about him for ten minutes? I'm so sick of hearing his name."

"Damn, girl," Rian said defensively, "Relax. I'm sorry."

Cassie shrugged and Jack slid back into the booth next to her, "That was Alex," he said.

"Sweet Jesus!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.

Jack looked at her, "Uh, are you okay?" he asked.

"Sorry. I'm fine. Continue," she said.

"He said there's a really sweet after party right now and wanted us to go."

Angie wrinkled her nose but didn't say anything. Cassie couldn't help but laugh though. Neither of them were really into parties all that much.

"No go?" Jack asked.

"It's just... Angie and I don't really party. It's not our scene," Cassie said, "But if you guys want to go, you should. Don't let us stop you."

"You don't even want to check it out?" Rian asked, "I mean, even just for a little bit. And if it sucks, or whatever, you can leave."

Angie looked down at the table for a minute then shrugged, "I guess," she said.

Cassie groaned inside her head but smiled outwardly as they all got up. It wasn't so much about the party sucking, it was about the fact that she just didn't want to go. But it was obvious to her that Angie wanted to hang out with Rian.

Take one for the team.