Before It's Over

Days passed and Kyle's persistence did not let up in the least bit. It was routine for Kyle to show up at our merch tent during the day to pester me. I tried my hardest to ignore him, in the hopes he would forget my slip up that day in Las Cruces. He didn't forget, and I gave up ignoring him. I went through a short stint of being mean to Kyle, hoping that would make him leave me alone. He only called me out on it. He knew I was always faking. So, I simply gave up trying to get him to leave. Now, I treated Kyle with a kind of annoyed tolerance and answered his everyday questions with short and sweet answers.

My friendships with Ryan and Travis grew and I spent most of my evenings with them. Travis began insisting I went to see at least three sets everyday, but I refused. Ryan was also trying to get me out of the merch tent during the day by offering a duet during his acoustic performances. I thanked him profusely, but always came up with an unconvincing excuse.

The first of July, we were in Missouri and the boys and I were playing one of the later sets of the day. I had been in the merch tent since breakfast, only leaving once to catch lunch and one song of Travis' set. It was soon four o'clock and Kyle had yet to show up at the tent. Adam was in the tent with me doing inventory.

"Okay so far I have two-hundred black monster tees, four-hundred and three green zoo print, three-hundred and twenty-six newspaper tees, two-hundred and fifty-one white logo, a hundred and ninety-six black logo, and four-hundred and six EPs." Adam listed, leaning up from the box of CDs he was kneeling in front of.

"Make that four-hundred and five EPs. What's left to count?" I asked glancing back at him as our latest customer walked away from the tent.

"Just the bracelets," Adam answered moving over to the cardboard box filled with rubber bracelets with the words 'The Forgetting Curve' printed on them.

I nodded and made my way over to my folding lawn chair. I was mere inches away from sitting when the sound of my name startled me. I stood quickly in shock and looked around. Adam was now standing up straight next to the box of bracelets, an equally startled expression written on his features. He was looking behind me, so I followed his gaze and was met with peroxide blond hair and a radiant smile.

"Jeeze, Kyle," I said simply before taking my seat.

I avoided looking at Kyle as he made his way over to me. I slouched in my chair and out of the corner of my eye I saw Kyle sit on the concrete beside my chair. I ran my hand through my hair to demonstrate to Kyle that I was frustrated and let out a sigh. This was how I greeted Kyle everyday.

"I have a question," Kyle said.

I remained silent, but Kyle knew I had heard him. This is how Kyle greeted me everyday.

"Who's your favorite singer?" he asked.

"I guess I like Kate Nash," I answered.

My hand was holding up my head, my elbow was resting on the arm of my chair and I was staring into my lap. Kyle, for some strange reason, poked his head under mine so that I was looking at his upside down face.

"Why?"

I groaned at Kyle's resemblance to a two year old, though inside I was secretly giggling.

"I don't know. She just has very straight forward lyrics I guess."

Kyle moved his head out of my view and sat upright beside me. I lifted my head out of my hand and let my arm drop down to the arm rest of my chair. Kyle shifted his position so he was no longer sitting beside my chair, but kneeling. He faced me, but I didn't look up to meet his eyes.

"Can I be straight forward?" he asked.

I laughed. "When are you not Kyle?" I nodded as a signal for Kyle to continue, finally looking towards his face.

"I like you."

Kyle never broke our eye contact. He did, however, intensify it. His eyes bore into mine with such intensity I couldn't look away.

"I really like you, and I would love if you would hang out with the guys and me on the bus today."

Kyle's request surprised me. I blinked a few times, but Kyle held his gaze. I finally turned my head forward again, away from Kyle. An unfamiliar sensation erupted in my stomach. I swallowed and nodded.

I turned back to Kyle just in time to see a smile emerge on his features. I smiled at the sight which only caused Kyle's smile to grow. He laughed and stood his normal height again. I had to look up at him as he spoke.

"Awesome! Is six alright? That's a little after our set."

I nodded and flashed Kyle a cautious smile. He returned it and nodded to me in goodbye. He did the same to Adam before turning and walking towards the front of the tent. As I watched him walk around our table, I caught the huge mistake I had just made.

"Hey, Burns!" I called and Kyle turned back to me with a confused look. "Don't think this is anything more than a one time thing!"

"We'll see, Goodman. We'll see."

;;

"I don't know why you're complaining, Ave," Ross said shaking his head as he adjusted the snare in his hands.

We were currently loading up our equipment after our set. I had been moaning to Ross about my agreeing to hang with Kyle for the past ten minutes. He didn't offer one bit of advice; instead, he was fawning over the idea.

"Don't you remember my plan? The one where you confess your undying love-"

"I do recall, and I also recall explaining the number of things wrong with that plan."

Ross and I reached the trailer just as Adam was turning to get the next trolley of equipment. He paused to help us load our trolley into the trailer.

"There was nothing wrong with my plan. You're just in denial," Ross defended as he placed my snare on top of Adam's guitar case.

"Kyle?" Adam asked as he smiled slyly in my direction.

"How'd ya guess?" I asked sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

"Ross plots all the time."

"Ew. Ross you're taking this Kyle thing way too seriously," I said as we began the trek back to the stage.

"I just wanna see you happy, Ave."

Ross' voice took a serious turn and he smiled at me genuinely. I rolled my eyes and glanced at Adam who was nodding in agreement with Ross. The two boys exchanged a look I couldn't place and soon engulfed me in a double bear hug. My lungs were squished and I could hardly breathe.

"Guys," I coughed out. "Let up a bit."

The boys did as I asked and released their holds on me, chuckling.

"Just trying to share the love, Ave. Just trying to share the love," Adam said clapping my shoulder.

"Maybe you should do the same for Kyle."

I never thought I'd groan so much on this tour, but apparently it would be an hourly occurrence.