We All Fall Down

I was trying to stretch out my skinny jeans as I moved one leg up and slipped it into the pant leg. This proved difficult when I accidentally jabbed my foot into the car radio.

“Oh my god!” I screamed as I fumbled my way through the car, trying to get the jeans on.

I accidentally kicked the radio again and it turned on, blasting Forever The Sickest Kids on.

What the crap? When did I ever own a Forever The Sickest Kids CD? I don’t even remember buying one….

Jack. I was going to pound his ass the next time I saw him. How dare he leave his crappy punk music in my car!

I rolled my eyes at the repetitive lyrics and techno sounding beat that the kids played.

“Hey. I recognize that song.”

I looked up and saw someone standing right by my window. Thank god I had already pulled my pants up--but the problem wasn’t that. It was the fact that I still hadn’t finished buttoning them and zipping them up.

“Oh--oh, I’m sorry!” the guy shouted, turning away from me.

I quickly buttoned them and pulled on the purple leopard print cardigan that sat in the passenger seat next to me on.
Embarrassed, I finally turned my car off which killed the radio as I got out of the car.

“Yeah,” I said. “I’m dressed now, I guess.”

He looked back at me and that’s when I got a pretty good look at him. His hair was a little on the long side, dark curly mess that was pretty much bed head from what I could tell. He was wearing a shirt that had a disco ball on it and I noticed it as one of the Forever Sickest Kids merch. He was wearing dark skinny jeans as well that almost matched my own.

Scary.

“Sorry,” he quickly said, putting out a hand for me. “The name’s Jonathon. I was just admiring your taste in music.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s not my CD. Some jackass left it in my car,” I told him, taking his hand.

He stared at me, still holding onto my hand. And then he laughed, pulling it away. “You’re funny,” he told me.

I pulled my freed hand away from him, a little scared now.

“Thanks,” I said.

“So what brings you to here?”

I looked around, taking in my surroundings. “Well, I’m supposed to meet up with Laura Crenshaw I think. The founder of--”

“--Less Fortunate Souls Foundation. Yeah. I’m here for that as well. Are you the designer for the music appreciation line?” he asked me.

I nodded my head at him, confused. How did he know?

As if he read my mind, “My band was chosen as the spokesperson for the line. You’re gonna be going on tour with us as our…merch girl, I suppose.”

I stared at him for an extremely long time. Had I just heard him correctly? I was going to be their merch bitch?

Did God hate me that much?

It was as if certain events were just repeating themselves.

“What’s your band called?” I asked him.

He stared at me for a moment and began laughing.

“I’ll give you a hint,” he said. “You’re already familiar with our music.”

He was looking at my car. I turned to see that the direction his gaze was towards my car radio.

Oh my god.

“You’re Forever The Sickest Kids?” I exclaimed.

He laughed at my naiveté and nodded his head. “The lead vocals,” he said while polishing his nails on his shirt and blowing on them. I laughed a little at this.

“Sorry,” I explained, “I’ve just never really bothered to see you guys before. I used to be All Time Low’s merch girl and you guys toured with them while I was there. I just kind of didn’t pay attention, I guess.”

That’s when I saw Jonathon staring at me, wide eyes, shocked.

“You were their merch girl?! When?” he cried.

I rolled my eyes. “During the Alternative Press tour you guys had a way back. You know…with Sonny…and yeah…”

He laughed at me.

We were heading towards the white tent that was set up on the grass. I presumed it was for the shoot they were holding for Alternative Press, considering that the fashion line was being featured in the monthly issue of the music magazine.

“So what do these fashion designs look like?” he asked me, peering down at the bag I was carrying.

I shielded it away from him, getting a little defensive. “None of your business.”

He laughed a little at this. “Actually,” he started, and by then I had realized what I just said, “it is. Considering that I’m your model and all.” He began posing ridiculously and holding his hands on his hips.

I was giggling all the way we reached the tent. That’s when I noticed a bunch of people around, setting things up for the shoot.

“What up, Jonathon?” asked a very bleach blonde haired boy who towered over me easily. I stared up at him as Jonathon clapped him on the back.

“Nothing, Kyle. How’s the boys?”

He looked back at the mess of boys that were lounging on the chairs behind him.

“Uh--Caleb looks like he’s about to die if we don’t get anything in his system,” answered Kyle.

“Shutup!” yelled a ginger headed boy in the back.

I laughed a little at this.

“Who’s this?” Kyle suddenly asked, finally noticing that I was standing there.

Jonathon, remembering my presence, turned towards me and said, “This is the designer for the line. Um, Mia, was it?”

I didn’t remember telling him this, but I answered with a, “Mia Hawthorne. Nice to meet you,” as I reached for Kyle’s hand.

He returned it with his own hand and said, “Kyle Burns. Drummer of Forever The Sickest Kids. Likewise.”

With that, I smiled at both of the dirty, unwashed boys that I would have to deal with the next couple of months during their tour.

Oh joy.

------

Their bus was just a huge white van. I cringed at the thought of having to live on this for the next couple of weeks. According to Laura, who finally arrived at the shoot twenty minutes after we began, I would only have to promote the line for the first few weeks and then I could leave and go back to LA. I was grateful for that.

As I climbed into the back of the van, I made sure that I didn’t come in contact with any dirty, unwashed articles of clothing. That would be completely life scarring.

“Thank god I shaved before we got on this tour. Otherwise, I’d return like Jesus or something,” said Jonathon as he climbed in behind me.

“Oh god,” said Austin Bello, the bassist. “That would be so sweet!”

Kent rolled his eyes at him.

“Alright! Let’s get going guys!” shouted Kyle, climbing in as well.

“Ew!” shouted Marc, the guitarist. “Who just farted!”

“Not me!” piped up Caleb.

All the boys began pointing fingers at one another.

“Hey,” shouted Jonathon over the ruckus. “We have a lady in front of us. She’s a lady…and--”

“Lady’s shouldn’t be messed with!” screamed the rest of them in unison.

Oh my god. To deal with this for the next couple of weeks…how will I survive?

And yet, as I watched the rest of them trample on each other, bringing me into the mix with Jonathon’s strong arm, I felt much like my old self. The seventeen year old Mia.

It was all pretty much nostalgic at that moment.