Before It's Over

The next day, in Ventura California, I exited the van and stepped into the morning heat. Ross and Aiden had already left the van an hour ago, and Shane had just left to get catering. I changed in the trailer and exited to find Travis stepping off of his bus. He spotted me as well and waved. I did the same and motioned him over. He held up his index finger, telling me to wait a moment, before disappearing into his bus. Travis emerged only seconds later.

"Hey," I said when he reached me. I shoved my hands in pockets and let out a long breath, already suffering in the heat.

"Hey," Travis said, flashing a smile and messing with his hair.

"You feel like escorting a lady to catering?" I asked giving Travis my own smile.

"Sure. I was heading there anyway."

Travis turned and took the place beside me. We walked to the catering tent, complaining to each other about the heat.

"Hey, I so have it worse than you," Travis said. He pointed to his hair and said, "Ginger."

I laughed and pushed back the sunglasses resting on the bridge of my nose. I pushed my bangs away from my forehead only to have them fall back again. The catering tent came into view and I saw that the line was already long. I let out a groan and Travis chuckled.

"This isn't funny!" I said smacking Travis's upper arm with the back of my hand. "I wanted to get into the tent early today. I gave up a lot of time to watch you guys play yesterday."

"Oh, you know we were amazing. I also heard from Aiden that Kyle literally carried you away from your merch tent yesterday. What's that about?"

Travis and I took our spots at the end of the line behind Jack Barakat and Alex Gaskarth. They greeted Travis quickly and sent me friendly smiles before returning to their own conversation.

"Kyle kinda weirds me out. He's very persistent. I don't know. He just kept talking to me."

"Kyle's just like my friend Alex over here," Travis said throwing a thumb behind him in Alex's direction. "He's a flirt, but he never follows through."

"I do not flirt. I just have natural charm!" Alex yelled, obviously overhearing Travis' comment. "Girlfriend. Remember?"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever Al. Anyway, Avery, he's a good guy, but if he starts putting the moves on you, he doesn't mean it."

I nodded, taking in the information Travis just handed me. I was grateful. Knowing Kyle was a flirt made it easier for me to stay away. It gave me a valid reason to do so.

Travis and I stood in line for about half an hour before we reached any type of food. We chatted the whole time, getting to know each other better. Normally, I wasn't a fan of one-on-one confrontations, but Travis made it very easy for the conversation to flow. I found myself becoming very comfortable with Travis. By the time we sat down at a table with Jack and Alex we were joking and laughing like we'd known each other for more than two days.

"Hey Trav," Jack said, taking Travis's attention from the thumb war we were having.

"You know when the first sloppy joe day is?"

"Sloppy joe day?" I asked.

"It's Jack's favorite," Alex explained before taking a bite of his bagel.

"Nah, dude. I don't. You should ask David, he'll know." Travis offered before turning his attention back to our war.

;;

After breakfast, Travis and I parted ways; Travis to his set and me to the merch tent. Doors hadn't opened yet, so the lot was empty. When I reached the tent I decided to hang back and watch the scene unfolding in front of me.

Aiden stood behind the table, an agitated stare gracing his features. Ross was across from Aiden, his back to me. His hands were leaning on the table and he was leaning towards Aiden. As I got closer to the tent I could hear Ross speaking.

"Are you sure? Maybe you should check. You know Aiden, it's always good to triple check inventory."

Aiden's face remained forward, his eyes gazing past Ross's head. The irritated expression did not fall from his features as he spoke, "I'm sure Ross."

"Ross, what are you doing?" I asked, standing myself beside him.

"Oh, you know. The usual: teasing Aiden."

A small laugh escaped my lips at his answer. I turned to face my brother who was giving me a look that said 'get rid of him for me, Ave.' I just shrugged, happy with the prospect of my best friend's company.

Ross and Aiden were polar opposites, which is probably why I liked Ross so much. He was nothing like my brother. Aiden was stern, organized, controlling. Ross, on the other hand, was kind, child-like, and free-spirited. Ross, being the immature boy he was, found teasing Aiden to be a great past-time. Although Aiden normally looked to me to stop his torture, I found it quite amusing, and only told Ross to back off when Aiden was reaching his breaking point. Like he was now.

"Well, why don't you take a break and hang with your bestie for a bit, aye?" I offered, resting my hand on Ross's shoulder.

"Well all right. Only 'cause I love you to bits."

"And I you."

Ross and I walked around the table and under the cover of our merch tent. A grateful Aiden took a seat in his folding chair lazily. Ross and I grabbed our own chairs from the corner of the tent, opened them and took our seats. It wasn't long before doors had opened and a few kids came up for merch. I took the initiative and filled their requests.

For next hour we had a steady flow of kids at the tent. Eventually, Aiden joined me at the table. Then Ross felt bad for not doing anything, so he stood and retrieved Aiden's iPod from one of the many piles of merch. Bless him. He stood out in the scorching heat and asked anyone who walked by to listen to a sample of our EP. Eventually the heat was too much for him and he came back to help under the shade of the tent.

"Avery."

Kyle's voice made not only me jump, but Aiden and Ross as well. All three of us turned from the small group of kids at the front of the tent. Kyle stood in the back left corner of the tent, as if he had gone under out tarp wall. His hands were on his hips – contradictory to their normal place in his pockets. His hair was slightly dirty, though it was expected after three days of no showers. His expression was questionitive with a hint of disappointment hidden in his eyes.

"I'll handle him," I promised the two boys on either side of me.

Aiden merely nodded and turned back to the crowd, which now was requesting pictures and signatures from Kyle. Ross, however, beamed at me and mumbled something along the lines of 'take your time' as he moved back to the crowd.

I shrugged off his behavior and made my way over to Kyle. He stood with his hands in his pockets now. I had come to realize this was his normal stance whenever I was in close proximity. The questionative expression remained on his features until I was standing right in front of him. At that time a wide grin broke onto his lips.

"What's up Kyle? I'm kinda busy," I said, my words rushed for effect.

"Why'd you leave the set early?" Kyle asked frankly.

I let out a sigh and ran a hand through my hair. I then shoved my hands deep into my pockets only to remove my right hand to run it through my hair again. I scratched a fake itch on my nose and looked around, but not back at Aiden and Ross.

"I had to get back to the tent. Kind of like if have to do now," I answered, motioning to the now growing crowd. "You're making my boys frazzled."

After my statement, Kyle and I glanced over my shoulder at Aiden and Ross who were trying to calm the screaming FTSK fans.

"Anyway, Ave," Kyle said, placing a hand on my shoulder in an effort to get my attention back on him. "I know that's not the real reason. Just tell me why you left."

"It doesn't matter, Kyle. It's unimportant. I-"

"It's important to me." Kyle's eyes bore into mine with pleading.

He was closer to me than he was before. We were less than a foot apart. I took a step back and Kyle stayed in his spot, which I was grateful for. He did glance over my right shoulder for a moment, which got me curious. I turned my head slightly to find my brother watching us from his spot at the table. Kyle took no further notice of him.

"Kyle, I needed to get back to the tent," I stated simply before turning and walking back to the table and standing next to my brother. Unfortunately, Kyle followed me, making the crowd in front of the tent scream even louder.

Aiden was great support at the best of times. I know that most of the time he annoys the crap out of me, but when I need him as a big brother he's there for me. The downside is he's always there, even if I don't need him.

"I don't believe you."

"That's the truth Kyle. I don't care if you believe me or not."

I wondered if I sounded like Aiden had only minutes before – annoyed, bored, over it.

"Just tell me the truth. Why d'ya leave, Ave? Was it because I wasn't sitting with you? I would have sat wi-"

"Kyle, seriously," I said, letting out a grunt of annoyance. "I just needed to get back to the tent. That's all. I need to be at the tent."

"I still don't believe you."

"Believe what you will. I know the truth."

"So why won't you tell me."

"I just did."

"You- Ugh! Great."

Confused, I looked at Kyle's face. He wasn't looking at me; instead his attention was turned to his cellular device. Before I could determine the model, Kyle had his phone in his pocket again.

"Look, I have a signing at the Modlife bus, like, now. Come with me…please. We'll have fun and I'll bring you right back to the tent afterwards."

I let out yet another sigh and looked down at the table in front of me. I raised my head again moments later to see a hopeful look on Kyle's face.I tried my hardest not to awww.

"Look, Kyle, I really have to stay here. You're attracting attention to the tent and we need to take advantage of that. Alright?"

Looking hurt and dejected, Kyle looked at me one more time before nodding, turning and heading off in the direction of the Modlife bus. The small gathering of people that had formed during my conversation with Kyle was cut in half. I smiled at the girl in front of me as she moved closer to the table.

"You are one crazy chick," she said.

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"You just turned down Kyle Burns."