Not So Jasey Rae.

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

“Count me in and I'll be the one to take the knife out of your spine, ‘cause I know you'd be the first to bury the blade deeper into mine.”

Kenneth Nixon’s voice rang through Skylar’s ears as her alarm went off. It was nine. She had an hour before Zack would be there to pick her up. She ran to her closet, pulling out an easy, simple outfit, one that would suit today. She took a quick shower, before getting out and popping a pop-tart in the toaster. She had twenty minutes left. After eating breakfast, she finished getting ready and then sat down to watch re-runs of Tom and Jerry. She was surprised that she hadn’t woken up Amelia yet, she wasn’t that heavy a sleeper.

Just to check, she walked to Amelia’s room, and found that it was empty, except for the paper taped onto the pillow.

If your reading this, then I know you’re kind enough to have checked on me. Alex called last night, so I’m on a date. I’ll call you later.
xoxo, Amelia.

Nice, Sky thought, Alex is out corrupting her best friend. What’s next?

Before she could answer her own question, the door bell rang, signaling that Zack was there, to pick her up. She walked over to the door, with the note still in hand, opening the door. Standing there was a smiling Zack, with his camera case. She opened the door, and stepped aside, allowing him to walk in.

“Ready for our date?” He asked.

She blushed and chuckled, “It’s not a date,”

“Really now?” He was laughing.

“Really. Hey, do you want a drink or anything before we go?”

“Um, what do you got?”

“Apple juice,”

He laughed, “I’ll take it.”

While she got it ready, he couldn’t help but watch her. She didn’t move flawlessly, but she wasn’t clumsy. She wasn’t perfect, at all, but she was close enough. He could tell this in the twenty or so hours he had known her. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. Alex had laughed at him, saying that he was just in it for the sex. This wasn’t the case for Zack, not this time. He didn’t like her like that, yet but he wanted to get to know her. This was how he would do it. This wasn’t some groupie he would use and dispose of.

No doubt Alex was off getting some now.

Zack was broken from his thoughts when she began talking again.

“Just let me grab my stuff real quick, and we can get going.”

“Okay,” When she returned, she had her camera bag over one arm, with her sketchbook and charcoal pencils in the other.

“I might sketch some, is that okay with you?” She asked as they got in the car.

“Yeah. Are you okay with going to the beach? Maybe have a little picnic?”

She laughed, she loved picnics, “I’d love to. Do I need to bring any food?”

“No, I already packed for it, it’s in- Shit! I left it at the hotel, so is it okay if we stop by real quick? It’s on the way. So it’ll be real quick.”

“Fine by me,” She answered. For the ten minutes of driving, they talked about lighting, angles, and overall photography.

When they pulled into the fancy-looking hotel, Zack turned to look at Skylar. “Alex’s car is here, which means Amelia is here.”

“She didn’t tell me what they were doing.”

“Okay,” He got out of the car, and she followed, getting out before he could open the door for her. Maybe just a little too fast.

“Okay, then,” He laughed. “I see you don’t like that, I won’t do it again.”

“Oh, it’s fine. I just…” She trailed off as they reached the lobby of the hotel. It was beautiful, to say in the least. The ceilings high, designs far too complicated to follow traced the walls in a graceful looking manner. A sophisticated looking lounge area took over a large corner of the room, with few people mingling around.

“Skylar?” Zack’s voice cut like a knife through her faint thoughts.

“Oh, sorry, I’m coming.” She followed him up the stairs; he wasn’t patient enough to wait for an elevator. When they got to the room, Zack quietly opened the door, and they slipped into the room.

“Zack!” A gangly looking boy ran into the entrance with a beer in one hand, and a remote in the other, jumping on Zack, hugging him.

“Hey, Jack.” He said once ‘Jack’ jumped down. “This,” he moved out of the way, gesturing to Sky. “Is Skylar, the one Alex was talking about.”

“Oh, you’re The Challenge.” He said it with an edge, like a game show host would introduce himself to a crowd, perhaps. “I’m going to call you Sy-Sy, it fits you.” He looked at her, as for permission, but when she said nothing, he continued. “I’m Jack, Zack and Alex’s sophisticated friend.” He held out his hand, and Sky took it, shaking it lightly, but Jack had other plans in mind. He instantly pulled her into a quick hug, before grabbing her hand and pulling her into another room. “Rian, look! I got a new friend!”

They ran up to a boy propped up against the counters, watching TV. He was shorter than the other. Sky vaguely remembered Amelia talking about a Rian when she referred to the band. He seemed calmer, though. He held his hand out, and Sky took it cautiously, bracing herself for something such as what Jack had done. “No worries, I’m gonna guess Jack traumatized you? I’m not as… strange,” He said, as if he couldn’t think of a better word to suite his friend. “I’m Rian. And you are?”

“This is Alex’s Challenge.” Jack said, using that voice again, holding onto her shoulders.

“Oh, you’re Skylar. Yeah, he might have mentioned you. Once, or twice. But, not nearly as much as Zack over here,” Rian gestured to where Zack was standing with his beer can. Zack’s face flushed.

“I only said that we were planning on hanging out today. Nothing more.”

Jack laughed, and looked at Rian. “Aw, Rian, we better stop, we’re embarrassing him.” He moved forward to jab Zack in the stomach, but Zack knew it was coming, and flexed right on time. “Ow! Za-ach! Why’d you do that? My finger hurts, kiss it Sky!” He held his finger in front of Skylar’s face, waiting for her to kiss it. She looked at the boys.

“He seriously won’t put the finger down until you kiss it,” A familiar voice said, walking into the kitchen. An unhinged Alex walked up to Jack, and pulled the finger towards him, kissing it softly, before pushing it back towards Jack. Jack smiled happily, before walking to the fridge for another beer.

“Looks like you got some, bro. Where’s the girl?” Rian asked, laughing.

“Yeah, where’s the girl?” Skylar asked, crossing her arms over her chest lightly. She couldn’t believe that Amelia had been so stupid as to sleep with Alex. Didn’t she know that he wasn’t serious about anything?

“Ha-ha, Sky, calm down. Amelia is in the entry way, ‘cleaning up’ to meet the guys. Well, Rian and Jack anyway. You can go check on her if you’d like.” She sneered at the fact that he’d practically just dismissed her. She turned and walked away, in search for her missing friend. She walked up to a messy looking, yet glowing Amy.

“Didn’t you think to take a shower?”

Amelia looked at her, as if startled she was there. “Well, I got more out of that shower that I was expecting.” She blushed.

Sky rolled her eyes, it was disgusting. “So, you wanna come with me, or what?”

“To do what?”

“Meet the rest of All Time Low, of course.” She walked into the kitchen, knowing Amelia would follow happily.

She walked into the kitchen, with a new stride. Skylar didn’t know why she felt a sudden boost of confidence, but she liked it. She walked and stood between Jack and Zack, Jack putting his arm around her in a friendly manner instantly. She couldn’t help but feel as Zack’s hand brushed up against her own, and blushed. Her thoughts were interrupted by a shrill scream.

Amelia had finally joined them.

“Oh my gosh, your Jack Barakat!” She squealed. Jack giggled, but made no move to walk over to her. Maybe the fact that you could still smell the sex on her made her unappealing to hug.

Not to Alex, though. He walked over to Amy and wrapped an arm around her, looking at the guys expectantly. Rian spoke up first. “Hey, I’m-”

“Rian Dawson!” She interrupted.

“Yeah, that.” He winced. He was slowly recovering from a hangover, he didn’t need shrill screaming.

“Guys, well, Jack and Rian, anyway, this is Amelia, Skylar’s best friend.” Alex slyly sent Sky a wink, no one else seemed to notice.

“Sy-Sy, you already have a best friend?” He whined, and she laughed at both his childish behavior and the nickname. They all chatted aimlessly for a few minutes, before Skylar excused her and Amelia, and pulled her back to the entrance way.

“Sky, why didn’t you tell me you and Jack Barakat were close!?!”

“Uh, because we’re not. But, I need to talk to you. You don’t honestly think that Alex will… you know. You do know that he’s just using you, right?”

Amy shrugged, “Maybe. Maybe he’s not. We’ve gotten pretty close.”

Skylar snorted, “Yeah, real close. I just don’t want you to get your heart broken, okay?”

“I won’t. Now, will you promise me something?”

“What?”

“We never speak of this conversation again.”

“Um, sure. Whatever.”

Little did they know, Alex Gaskarth could hear everything the girls were saying.

|~|~|~|

Zack and Skylar pulled up to the vacant beach. It was Sunday, and noon. Most were just getting out of church, or having a family lunch. They were alone, for the most part. They walked up to a little rise in the ground and set up their picnic, and put their camera’s around their necks, ready to go, just in case a really good opportunity came up while eating.

Zack had made a perfect lunch, complete with sandwiches, pineapple, watermelon, grapes, brownies, and everything else. He was an amazing cook, to say in the least. They talked about everything, music, jobs, touring, favorites, and the band members, they even discussed a little about the whole Alex and Amelia matter. During lunch, Zack saw a flock of seagulls flying overhead, and jumped up immediately, taking a picture of the beautiful formation the birds had formed. This happened later for Sky, too, when she saw a little boy and girl, about the age of seven, holding hands down on another dock. She couldn’t pass it up, it was too cute. But this didn’t stop their discussion. They felt like they really knew each other by the time they were done with lunch. By then, they had moved down closer to the ocean, and on the dock, taking pictures, before Sky decided to sit down and sketch. It was one that she had started on the last time she had come. She sketched the far sun, and how it glowed off the water and sand. Zack walked over and sat beside her as she finished shading with the charcoal pencils.

“Wow, that’s kinda… amazing.” He chuckled still staring at the picture.

“Really?” She thought it was good, but not amazing.

“Seriously.” He looked up at her, finding their faces only mere inches apart. He leaned in slowly, and she met him half way. But right before their lips met, she turned and he kissed her cheek.

“I don’t kiss on the first date,” She whispered in his ear.

He chuckled into hers, not moving, he said huskily, “Oh, so now you consider this a date.”

“Maybe.”