Carpe Diem

I woke up to a bright light piercing my eyelids, cause me to slowly open them, wincing. It was then I realised I was still outside considering I had a perfect few of the blinding sun, my eyes flickered around and I realised I was still in Nick’s arms, who was still asleep.

“Nick? Nick wake up.” I mumbled as I pushed his chest gently.

“Wh-why are we outside?” He questioned as he looked around.

“Long story.” I sighed, breaking my way out of his grasp.

“My head hurts.” He mumbled, pushing his hair out of his face.

Luckily I didn’t suffer with hangovers, so I felt perfectly fine, well, except for the guilt that had began to creep up inside me yet again. I chuckled as I outstretched a hand for him in order for him to get up, which he accepted.

“How are you feeling?” He asked, pulling me into his arms gently.

“You remember last night?” I chuckled.

“How could I not remember you rolling around in the grass.” He laughed.

I playfully hit him in the chest in response.

I sighed. “I need to go and see Hayden.”

“Come on.” He said, breaking the hug and pulling me inside the bus.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight in front of me, the bus was a complete mess, there were beer bottles and cans everywhere as well as broken chips. As I made my way through the bus and into the lounge section I glanced at the clock on the wall quickly, it read that it was nine in the morning. I groaned to myself, it was too early. My eyes flickered across the sprawled out bodies of Alex, Logan, Jake, Adam, Mark, Fred, Eddie, Justin, Eric and Matthew all over the floor. The only people missing were Adam and Hayden. I gulped a little. Collin was sat up, cradling a mug of coffee in his hands as we approached.

“I’ve told Hayden it was my fault, I know it was, I shouldn’t have been so stupid. Not that I knew what I was doing at the time, but I woke up suddenly remembering” He sighed.

“Did she listen to you?” I asked, hopefully.

“She knows it was my fault, She won’t talk to me though.” Collin said sadly.

“I’m going to go and see Hayden.” I sighed.

Nick squeezed my hand reassuringly. “Good Luck.”

I hugged him quickly. “Thanks, I’m going to need it.”

He let go of my hand and I made my way through the unconscious bodies and up the spiral staircase as quietly as I could. As I reached the top of the stairs, my eyes scanned quickly to see if Hayden was awake. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw she was but I couldn’t help but feel nervous as I approached her. She was sat with my acoustic guitar at the end of the room. I kneeled down in front of her as she placed my guitar to one side and looked at me.

“Hayden I’m so sorry, I really didn’t mean to hurt you, I-” I started but I was cut off as she wrapped her arms around me tightly.

“I’m sorry.” She mumbled.

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry for.” I said as I stroked the back of her hair.

“I feel like such a bitch for walking off like that last night and-”

“Don’t worry about it Hayd, honestly. I’m just glad you forgive me.” I chuckled.

“You’re my sister, how could I not? Plus, I know you weren’t the one who kissed him.” She said through gritted teeth.

Oh dear.

I pulled back from the hug and placed each hand on her shoulders.

“He was drunk, Hayden. You need to talk to him, he’s so cut up about it.” I sighed.

“I don’t want to.” She whined.

“Hayden you know as well as anyone that people make mistakes when they’re drunk. He’d never do anything to hurt you.” I said.

It was silent for a moment as she processed what I’d just said.

“Fine. I’ll talk to him.” She sighed.

I smiled in triumph.

“So, I saw you and Nick outside last night”. She smirked.

My smile dropped. I hated when she smirked.

“He was trying to control me as I was rolling around in the grass.” I said as I hid my face.

“Yeah, I saw that incident. I must say I’m touched, you rolled around in grass for me.” She winked.

I rolled my eyes and hit her playfully. “I was terrified you wouldn’t forgive me.”

“Like I couldn’t forgive you. Anyway, back to you and Nick.” She smirked.

I shrugged. “He was comforting me, like a good friend.”

“A good friend, huh?”

“YES! A good friend.” I laughed, pushing her.

She held her hands up in defence.

“Hey I’m only reporting on what I saw, but I think it’s sweet how he was being so comforting.” She said genuinely.

“Yeah, it was really sweet.” I chuckled.

She smirked once more.

“Stop doing that!” I exclaimed.

“Doing what?” She smirked.

I shook my head and laughed, standing up.

“You’re going to talk to Collin, whether you like it or not.” I smirked, extending a hand out to her and pulling her up.

She sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Right now?” She whined.

I rolled my eyes and nodded. “Yes now, come on.” I laughed as I pulled her along the short walk to the stairs and down them quickly.

My eyes scanned over the bodies of everyone who were now half sitting up moaning about one thing or another.

“Stop moaning and wake the fuck up, fuckers!” I exclaimed a little too loud.

“Jeeze Taylor, stop shouting would you?” Alex mumbled as she placed both hands over her ears, causing me to smirk in response.

I checked my watch quickly. I smiled as I realised that it was only nine thirty and we weren’t leaving until eleven to get to Jersey City which was only just under an hour away from Newark.

“Where’s the food?” Nathan mumbled.

“Aren’t you a little hungover?” Matt chuckled as he stood up.

“Of course I am, doesn’t mean I can’t eat though.” Nathan shrugged.

“Nothing would stop you eating, Nathan” Hayden scoffed.

“You’ve got that right.” He grinned as he grabbed a pack of sour patch kids off of the counter above him.

I shook my head back and fo as my eyes flickered over to Collin who was making his way down the steps and outside. I turned to Hayden and gave her an all knowing look, who sighed in response and made her way after him. I smiled to myself in triumph.

“Rough night?” I smirked at them all.

“Shut up, Taylor! Just because you’re immune to hangovers and you’ve slept!” Omar scoffed.

“Ah, the joy of not having hangovers, and you’ve slept too!” I exclaimed.

“Yes, but not for as long as you! Plus you had someone to sleep with.” He smirked.

I glanced at Nick quickly.

“I didn’t sleep with him, I slept on him, there is a difference smartass” I chuckled.

Omar shrugged in response.

“Slept on who?” Matt questioned, eying me suspiciously.

I rolled my eyes in response. “I slept on Nick, it’s not a big deal.” I scoffed as I made my way through them all and towards Nick.

“Sorry about that, they’re all idiots.” I laughed awkwardly.

“It’s fine, it does sound a bit weird though.” He chuckled.

I laughed in response and leaned back against the wall. My eyes flickered over to Collin and Hayden talking outside, I smiled to myself. I knew they’d eventually sort it out, after all it was only a drunken mistake, if Collin and I kissed soberly it would just be..ew. The smile was wiped off my face though, as I saw Adam appear from around the corner of the bus, and ran up the few steps into ours.
He grabbed my arm roughly and pulled me to one side, away from everyone else.

“You’re unbelievable!” He glared.

“What now, Adam? Let the fuck go of me.” I said, pulling my arm out of his grasp.

“You kissed Collin?!” He spat.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but he kissed me, and he was drunk. I don’t have to explain myself or my actions to you, Adam.”

“You’re such a band whore.” He scoffed.

I swear I’d never felt so angry before. Before I could process my actions I reached up and slapped Adam across the face.

“Oh yeah Adam, I’m such a band whore because Collin kissed me when he was drunk? That makes fucking perfect sense, if I was any kind of whore I’d sleep around with anyone and everyone!” I spat.

“You’ve kissed Collin, you and I had something, and don’t let me forget you and Nick Santino.” He glared, rubbing his cheek.

“Collin’s my best friend, that was nothing! You and I didn’t have anything Adam, it never happened! As for me and Nick, not that that’s any of your business either, we’re just friends!”

“Yeah, right.” He said, rolling his eyes.

“You have no right to accuse me of anything! So what, I’m not allowed to make mistakes and be friends with other guys? It’s been four years Adam, get over it!”

“I am over it!” He screamed.

“Then stay the fuck out of my life, what I do, who I date and what happens in my life is my business! You told me to stay away from you, and I am! So fucking do the same!” I yelled.

“Is everything okay?” Nick questioned, walking over to us.

“Just peachy!” Adam seethed.

“Everything’s fine, Adam here just needs to sort out his priorities.” I said, glaring at Adam.

Adam glared at me and flipped me off, before making his way past Nick and into the main section of the bus. I began to tense up and felt my hands ball into fists.

“What’s his problem?” Nick asked, concerned.

“Me.” I mumbled.

“Why? What’ve you done?”

“It‘d take me years to explain everything.” I chuckled.

“Well we’ve got three weeks, is that enough time?”

“Your opinion will change on me by the end of it.” I said seriously.

“I doubt it, how bad could it be?” He laughed.

He really had no idea.