Carpe Diem

“They’ll never fail to amaze me!” Alex exclaimed as Hit The Lights ran off the stage.

“You and me both.” I grinned.

“You’re practically brothers with Hit The Lights and Matt’s your cousin, I’d kill to be you.” she chuckled.

“I’ll have you know that your brother is hella talented and has loads of fan girls too.” Nick said smugly.

“Chyeah right, keep dreaming.” Alex scoffed playfully.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“And what are you laughing at? You know it’s true.” Nick winked at me.

“Sure, we’ll go with that.” I joked as I nudged him.

“You’re just jealous that girls want me!” He whined.

“Of course, of course.” I said as I rolled my eyes.

He huffed and flipped me off playfully, before literally running over to Justin, jumping on him and knocking him to the floor.

“It’s amazing how you actually tolerate my brother.” Alex laughed as she linked arms with mine.

“I kind of have to, he caught me rolling around in the grass last night, It’s just so he doesn’t tell everyone.” I joked as I pulled her over to where Hayden and Lidia were standing with Matt, Eddie, Adam, Fred and Mark.

I jumped on Hayden and hugged her tightly.

“I’m feeling the love.” She chuckled as she hugged me back.

“How proud are you of our boys?!” I exclaimed.

“For the second time, we’re your boys too!” Fred exclaimed.

I laughed and let go of Hayden and stood in front of Fred.

“I’m so sorry, Fred. Forgive me?” I asked as I got on my knees and bowed down.

“It’s king Fred now, you may rise peasant, you are forgiven.”

“Peasant? Okay you’re taking it too far, I take back my apology!” I joked as I jumped on him.

“What is it with you and jumping on people?” Matt grinned.

“What can I say, I like to jump.” I laughed as I high-fived him.

“Yeah, band members.” Adam mumbled under his breath.

I sighed and rolled my eyes, letting go of Fred.

“If you’ve got something to say Adam, at least say it loud enough for everyone to hear it.” I spat.

He just rolled his eyes and flipped me off.

“You’re such a stuck up fuck!” I said as I kicked him hard in the leg.

“What the fuck?!” He yelled as he grabbed his leg.

I smirked in response and slung my arm over Matt’s shoulder.

“I don’t know why you put up with him.” I laughed.

“You and me both sometimes.” He replied as he shot a glare at Adam as he‘d heard what he said. I loved how he’d always have my back regardless of if something was my fault or not.

“Dude it’s two, we need to go to our tent signing.” Fred said to Matt.

“I’ll see you later!” Matt chuckled as he hugged me tightly.

“Love you long time.” I smirked as I ruffled his hair.

Matt rolled his eyes playfully and followed the others out of the crowd.

“So, what are we going to do for the next what? Two hours?” Lidia laughed as she glanced at Alex, Hayden and I.

“I’m feeling shopping.” I grinned.

That had to be one of the best suggestions I’d made on that tour, I’m not even joking. I don’t think I’d ever laughed and had as much fun as I’d had then in a long time. We got a cab to the nearest mall in Jersey City and pretty much went crazy. Actually no, crazy is an understatement.

“I actually love this!” I grinned as I held up a belt buckle with a rocket and a moon on it symbolising the band.

“Buy it then, loser!” Alex laughed as she tried on a few pairs of sunglasses.

“Man, Hot Topic is one of the best stores there is!” Hayden exclaimed as she rummaged through the band shirts.

“This is the last store we’re going to, we have to restrain ourselves from buying anymore!” I laughed as I looked down at my four bags on the floor, two from American Apparel and two from Hollister.

“More like you have to restrain yourself.” Hayden smirked as she glanced down at my bags.

I scoffed playfully and picked my bags up before going to pay for the belt.

I admit when I went shopping I went off the rails, but I always bought decent things, so in my mind, it was okay, ha.

“Considering we can’t go to any more stores, can we go to the food court? I’m dying.” Alex whined as she pointed to the food court.

“I swear you’re as bad as Nathan when it comes to food.” I joked as I nudged her playfully as we made our way over to the food court.

“I’m nothing like Nathan VanDame!” She defended as she placed her bags down on the floor and pulled out the chair at our table.

“You wish.” I winked as I mimicked her actions as Hayden did the same.

“Just because you want to bang my brother.” She winked.

I choked.

“I do not! We are friends!” I laughed as I got up.

“You wish.” She mimicked.

I rolled my eyes playfully and made my way towards the McDonalds section. I ordered a Strawberry Milkshake as they were my guilty pleasure and some Fries before making my way back over to Alex and Hayden.

“So, you and my brother.” Alex pushed as I sat back down and placed my Fries and Milkshake on the table in front of me.

“Let it go, Santino! We’re friends!” I exclaimed as I stuck my straw in my Milkshake.

“Oh come on, there’s more to it than that.” Alex agreed as Hayden nodded, earning a glare from me.

“There’s really not.” I shrugged as the cold liquid filled my mouth.

Alex just smirked at me.

I sighed and placed my Milkshake back on the table. “You’re insane, we’ve known each other what, two days? Let.it.go.” I laughed.

She held her hands up in defence and stole a few of my Fries.

“Go and get your own, loser! You’re the one who complained you were dying.” I scoffed playfully as I pulled my Fries out of her reach.

She laughed and flipped me off before standing up and making her way towards the McDonalds section.

“So I never got the chance to ask you, did you sort things out with Collin?” I asked, hopefully.

“Yeah we’re okay now, I know it was a mistake.” She grinned as she drank some of my Milkshake.

“So the lovebirds are back on track.” I winked as I ate a fry.

“Don’t start or I’ll start cracking out the Nick Santino jokes.” She warned playfully.

I glared in response and chucked my straw wrapper at her head, which missed.

“Cheap shot.” She smirked.

“Now this is moving in the same direction, but I’m a little too spent to care.” blared as I dug in my pocket and pulled out my Sidekick and pushed the screen up.

One new message from Nick.

Wherever you’ve gone with my sister please leave her there. Thanks.

I laughed as I glanced up at Alex who had just sat back down.

“What?” She questioned.

I replied quickly.

To Nick.

Not a problem.

I snapped my Sidekick shut and shrugged innocently. “Nothing at all.”

She eyed me suspiciously before checking her watch.

“Holy shit, Taking Back Sunday are on in thirty minutes, we better go” She laughed as she stood up, grabbing her bags.

“Here, Miss Pissy” I chuckled as I handed Hayden my Fries before I gathered up my bags and picked up my Milkshake.

As we piled into a cab and made the familiar journey back to the “Mini Warped Tour” I couldn’t help but smile to myself. It was only the second day, and needless to say I was truly happy, despite Adam trying everything to try and take that away, it wasn’t going to work, I promised myself I wasn’t going to let anything get to me, and I made sure I stuck to that promise.

“Come on, hurry your short legs faster!” Alex demanded as she raced ahead through the crowds of people and towards the gate.

“Just because you’re eager to see Nathan doesn’t mean we have to be!” I shouted after her.

As we reached the gate Alex unlocked it, pushing me through roughly.

“You’re not funny!” She whined as she shut it behind Hayden.

“I am hilarious.” I said proudly as I ran to the bus.

“Now you decide to run!” Alex yelled after me.

“What can I say? I’m full of surprises” I said as I turned around and grinned at Alex and Hayden who were running to catch up with me as I ran up the stairs onto the bus.

“I’m just going to dump my stuff upstairs, You have the right to dump your stuff anywhere for now!” I laughed as I ran across the bus and up the spiral staircase.

“Hey kid!” I grinned as I saw Kade playing with Craig.

“Mommy!” He giggled as he outstretched his arms.

I chucked my bags onto my bunk and picked him up and wrapped my arms around him securely.

“He’s not been any trouble has he?” I laughed, glancing at Craig.

“He never is!” Craig laughed.

I kissed Kade’s cheek gently and handed him over to Craig.

“You guard him with your life!” I joked.

“When do I not?” He grinned.

“I love you!” I said as I kissed Kade on the cheek once more.

“Love you!” He giggled as he picked up his toy train from Craig’s lap.

I winked as I ran back across the top of the bus and down the staircase quickly.

“Come on, come on! We’ve got ten minutes!” Alex exclaimed as she pulled me by one arm and Hayden by the other.

“We can walk ourselves, you know!” Hayden playfully scoffed.

“You don’t walk fast enough!” Alex groaned as she let go of us to climb over the gate.

“Climbing is over-rated.” I whined as I climbed over, catching my leg on a piece of metal that was sticking out slightly.

“Fuck!” I groaned as I glanced down at my bleeding leg as I hopped down off of the gate.

I didn’t do blood, I couldn’t stand the sight or smell of it. It made me feel weak at the knees.

“Shit! Are you okay?” Alex exclaimed as she slung one of my arms around her shoulder.

“Just peachy!” I laughed as I tried not to look down.

“She doesn’t do blood.” Hayden chuckled.

“You need to go and get that cleaned up, come on, I’ll take you to the first aid tent.” Alex said as she pulled me along gently.

“You don’t have to, you can go and watch Taking Back Sunday, I’m sure I can find it myself.” I laughed.

“They’ll still be performing when we’re done, it’s fine.” She insisted.

I glanced at Hayden. “Go and watch Taking Back Sunday, Hayd. I don’t want to deprive you.” I grinned.

She grinned back and nodded before disappearing into the crowd.

“You are such a fool!” Alex grinned as we made our way through the crowds and into the First Aid tent.

“What happened to you?” A girl dressed in a pair of shorts and a The Maine t-shirt asked as she sat me down in a chair.

“I’m clumsy beyond words.” I laughed as I began to feel a little dizzy as I glanced down at my leg, hearing the crowd erupt into screams.

“The color’s drained from your face, you freak!” Alex said playfully as rubbed my arm reassuringly.

“Okay this is going to sting a little.” The girl said as she pressed an antiseptic wipe against my leg, causing me to wince.

“Sorry!” She chuckled as she placed a bandage around my leg and taped it up quickly. “I think you’re good to go, just take it easy for the next few hours okay, definitely sit down if you feel a little woozy” She smiled.

“I will do, thank you!” I said as I got up and glanced down at my legs once more. It was definitely a bad day to wear shorts.

“Are you feeling okay?” Alex asked as she linked arms with me and pulled me through the crowd.

“I’ll be fine.” I chuckled as we made our way through the crowd and towards the stage.

“What happened to you?!” Collin asked as he hugged me tightly.

“Nothing major, I just cut my leg.” I reassured as I hugged him back.

“We all know how you are with blood, are you sure you feel okay?” Nathan questioned, glancing at me.

“Wow VanDame, you’ve said something non-food related, I’m proud.” I joked.

“Hey! I’m being caring for once in my life.” He shrugged.

“I’m okay honestly, but thank you for being so considerate.” I winked.

He laughed and rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to the stage.

I mimicked his actions and turned to face the stage. I smiled as the beginning of Twenty-Twenty surgery kicked in, it was so weird seeing them on stage playing to a crowd who adored them, I guess it didn’t sink in how well known they’d become over the four years that everything changed. I was torn from my thoughts though as I began to feel slightly dizzy as I gripped onto Alex’s arm for support.

“Are you okay?” She asked once more, holding onto me tightly.

“I feel a little dizzy.” I mumbled as I rubbed my head.

“Whoa what happened to you?” Nick asked suddenly appearing by my side, startling me.

“Jesus, way to give me a heart attack!” I chuckled as I pushed my hair out of my eyes.

“She’s cut her leg like the loser she is.” Alex laughed, earning a nudge in the ribs from me.

“Are you okay?” He questioned.

“I’m fine, I wish people would stop asking me that." I mumbled as I rubbed my head.

“You clearly aren’t fine.” He laughed.

“If you say so!” I said as I closed my eyes for a second.

“You should sit down, you don’t look too good, Ghosty.” Alex joked.

“Shut up.” I groaned as I opened my eyes.

“Okay I have an idea.” Nick said as he bent down.

“Why’re you proposing to me?” I mumbled.

“Yeah you wish, get on my back.” He said as he grabbed my arm.

“Why?” I questioned.

“Stop questioning everything I say and do it.” He laughed.

I mumbled under my breath and climbed onto his back as he stood up straight. I wrapped my arms around his neck and glanced down at Alex and grinned.

“You look short.” I said smugly.

“Don’t patronise me, I’m not going to let go what we talked about earlier.” She smirked.

“I should’ve left you at the Mall.” I scoffed playfully.

“Yeah, why didn’t you?!” Nick joked.

“What is this? A plot to get rid of me? I’m offended!” Alex exclaimed dramatically.

I winked in response as I felt my eyes begin to grow heavy, I couldn’t fight the tired feeling even as the crowd erupted in the final cheers before Taking Back Sunday played their last couple of songs. I don’t know how I’d managed to do it despite all the noise, but I found myself slipping into a state of unconsciousness.