Four Years

Rachel's POV

May 9th, 2009. 8:12AM. Chicago, IL

I literally rolled out of the bunk, landing on the hard floor on the bus. I got up and ran to the front of the bus, peeking out the window. Yes. We were in Chicago.

I ran back to the bunk area again, flinging open everyone's curtains, "Guys, oh, my God, get up! We're home!"

Brendon groaned and grabbed the curtain, pulling it back shut. I rolled my eyes and pulled it open again. I grabbed his arm and yanked him out of his bunk, giggling as his body hit the ground hard.

I turned around and saw Pete crawling out of our bunk. Huzzah. One awake. Hemingway ran from the back, trampling over Brendon on his quest to the front. He knew we were home in Chicago.

"Guys, I wanna go run around. Okay, be right back!" I smiled, running to the front. I had my hand on the door when Brendon's voice stopped me.

"You're going out in that?" He asked, his voice raspy from sleep.

I glanced down at my outfit. I was wearing an oversized shirt, no pants. I skewed my mouth to the side. "You're right. I need socks."

He just smiled and rolled his eyes. I ran to my suitcase and pulled out a pair of black and white knee high socks. I slipped them on and ran back to the front.

"Come on, Hemmy, let's go play!" I smiled, skipping down the stairs with Hemmy quickly following after me.

I skipped around the parking lot happily. I was happy to be back in Chicago. This was my absolute favorite city. It's where I was born, raised. It's where I met Pete. Chicago's been nothing but good to me.

Hemmy ran over to me with a ball in his mouth. He dropped it at my feet, panting. He wanted me to throw it. I bent down and picked it up, then proceeded to toss it across the parking lot. He chased after it, his tongue flopping out of the side of his mouth.

I giggled as I watched him run past the ball, then run back to it, grabbing it as he ran. He ran back to me, dropping it. I picked it up and tossed it again.

It flew into some bushes. You're kidding. I ran over to the bushes and got the ball out, throwing it back towards the buses for Hem.

I ran back to the buses, giggling as Hemmy ran around with the ball in his mouth, "Drop it, Hem!"

He ignored me and ran back towards the bushes. I decided to chase after him. This probably looked so strange to anyone on any of the other buses, and anyone just walking by the venue.

Someone grabbed me from behind, picking me up. I screamed loudly, startled as fuck.

The arms wrapped around my waist were tattooed. I recognized them almost immediately. I started giggling. Pete set me down, grinning, "I can see through that shirt."

"Oh, you can, can you?" I smirked, shaking my hips. "Do you like my black bra and panties?"

"I do," He said, that grin still plastered on his face. He grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to him. He kissed me softly. I could feel him smiling. Gah, he was so cute. How could I cheat on him with Alex? Ugh, disgusting.

I was gonna try and block what Alex and I did last night out of my mind. I was only gonna focus on Pete. No other guy was gonna catch my eye.

"Can you guys stop being so cute? I'm gonna throw up," I heard a female voice say from behind us. I turned and saw Vicky standing there, a smile on her face.

I giggled, "'Ello, Vicky. What brings you out here at eight in the morning?"

"A barking Hemingway," She laughed, running her hand through her hair. "Do you what time we can go get the hotel rooms?"

"Oh, I have no idea. I'm staying with Pete at his parents house for these three days," I said, shaking my head.'

"You are? That's so cute. Tell Mama Wentz I said hello," She said, giving me a hug before walking back off towards her bus. Well.

I laughed and ran a hand through my hair, turning to go back to the bus. Hemingway ran up beside me, slowing down to walk with me to the bus. Aww, how cute was this dog?

***

Alex's POV

I woke up on the couch with a sore as fuck cheek. Rachel really hit me hard last night. I guess I kinda deserved it, though? I don't know. I don't think I deserved to be hit that hard. I mean, she did seem to enjoy me last night. Then she hits me that hard? No, that wasn't right.

I sat up and glanced out the window. Rae was outside - of course she was - throwing a ball for Hemingway. I smiled softly, noticing what she was wearing. It was an oversized Mickey Mouse shirt and a pair of knee length socks. She looked flawless, even though she most likely just rolled out of bed and ran out the door.

I wanted to go out there and just talk to her, but she wouldn't want to talk to me. I felt like I messed up, but at the same time, I really didn't. I got what I wanted. Rae slept with me.

She slept with me...

My smile fell as Pete got out of the bus and ran over to her, grabbing her from behind and picking her up. They were both laughing and smiling. A hint of jealous washed over me. I was envious of their relationship. They were so great together. I wanted a relationship like that.

"Hey, Lex," Matt said, his voice all raspy and shit from sleep. He glanced out the window to see what I was looking at. "I like Rachel's shirt."

I chuckled, looking at him and shaking my head. He would like her shirt. "Matt, what are we doing today besides playing?" I asked as he sat down at the table across from the couch.

"Um, I don't know. We'll figure something out," He shrugged, putting his head down on the table. Lazy fuck. Worst tour manager ever. "We gotta go to the hotel first."

I groaned and fell back to the couch, "I hate not doing anything."

"Then go out and throw the fucking ball with Rae," He mumbled, waving me off.

"This is not fifth grade, Matt. I'm not going and playing ball with her," I replied, throwing myself off the couch. I laid on the ground, my face smooshed into the carpet. This was so dirty.

"I know what you can do then," He said, sitting up.

I glanced up at him, my face still smooshed into the carpet, "What?"

"Clean up the fucking Lucky Charms you spilled last night. That shit got everywhere," He pointed to the spot where the Rae spilled the Lucky Charms.

"I didn't fucking do that," I muttered.

"Then who did, Alex?"

Oh, shit. I didn't want Matt or anyone else to find out that Rae and I slept together. I sighed and sat up, picking up my bowl, "Nevermind who did it."

He rolled his eyes and walked back to the bunks as I cleaned up the nasty as fuck mess. I glanced out the window again, expecting to see Rae. She was gone. No one else was out there. It was all empty now. Huh.

Whatever.

***

Rachel's POV

"Hey, come on, we're going to see my parents and your mom," Pete said, poking his head in the tiny bus bathroom. I nodded and turned back to the mirror. I applied a nice, even amount of eyeliner, smiling at my reflection. I felt pretty today.

I stepped into the front lounge, still smiling. Pete's jaw dropped a bit as soon as his eyes landed on me. I felt my cheeks burst into flames, causing me to look down at my white Doc Martens.

There was a scuff on them. I gasped and licked my thumb, then bent down and tried to wipe it off. It came off a bit, but not much. I sighed and looked back up, pouting, "There's a scuff."

"Oh, boo," Brendon pouted, mocking me.

I grabbed a plastic cup off the counter and threw it at him, "Shut up, Brendon."

He just laughed and rolled his eyes, getting up and leaving the bus. Joe followed right after him. Pete stood up and held out his hand. I took it, smiling.

"You know, Patrick's proposing today in like...a half an hour," Pete said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I gasped, stopping in my tracks. I ripped my hand from Pete's and ran back to the bus. I ran on and ran to my bags. I grabbed my camera out of one of the bags and ran back out to Pete. I flashed a toothy grin at him, holding up my camera.

"Why are you bringing that? Jess is gonna get suspicious..." He asked, pointing to the camera in my hands.

"Whoa, total flashback moment. I just remembered that night we pulled the porn ninja prank, and we went to the store and you had the camera - "

"And you asked where it came from," He laughed, finishing my thought.

"We're such dorks," I giggled, grabbing his hand.

"You got that right," Brendon smirked, looking over his shoulder at us.

"Turn back around, Urie," Pete said, motioning for Bren to turn back around. "So, we're going to go to the record store where Trick and Jess met, then we're gonna go have a tour family lunch."

"Aw, yay. Wait, aren't you playing tonight?" I asked, looking over to my right. I noticed Jess and Patrick walking up to us. I couldn't help but to smile at Jess. Just knowing what was going to happen in a half an hour was making me happy. I felt like I was gonna explode. I could only imagine how Patrick felt.

"Hey, go talk to Jess. I wanna talk to Patrick," Pete whispered, letting go of my hand.

I nodded and skipped over to the happy couple. I smiled widely, "Hello, my darlings. Trick, Pete wants to talk to you and band happenings and whatnot."

He just nodded slowly and walked over to Pete, who was grinning widely. Pete wrapped his arm around Trick's shoulder and kept walking. I grabbed Jess' hand, tangling my fingers with hers, and started following after the boys to the roadies van.

"Band happenings?" Jess laughed, staring straight ahead.

"I don't know, man. Pete just told me to get Patrick, so I did," I shrugged, starting to swing our hands. Pete looked back at me and shook his head. I think that meant stay back? So, I did. I stopped, causing Jess to stop as well.

"What are you doing?" She asked, looking confused as hell.

"I, uh...um, well, uh - " I quickly rattled my brain, trying to think of something. Then I noticed it. "The way the light hits you here is fucking fantastic. Stand still."

She rolled her eyes and smiled as I took her picture. Wow, that actually worked. I reviewed the photo, smiling, "You are so gorgeous. Give me your goddamn face."

She laughed and grabbed the camera out of my hand, looking at the photo, "No, I'm really not."

"Pssh, shut up," I rolled my eyes. Seriously, Jess was so beautiful. How could she not see that?

"Rachel!" I heard someone call out before tackling me to the pavement. Fucking hell, who the fuck did that? They quickly got off of me and grabbed my hand, pulling me up to my feet. "Sorry, sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to - your shoe has a scuff."

I brushed the bangs back out of my face and looked up at the boy who had knocked me to the ground and scuffed my shoe even more. I glared at him, smacking him in the chest because his head was too far away, "What the fuck is your problem, Jack?"

"I have no idea. We're still trying to figure that out," He shrugged, ruffling my hair. "Where are you guys going? I'm bored and I need something to do."

"Aren't you going to lunch with us at like...two?" I laughed, fixing my hair. Jess handed me my camera and ran to catch up with the guys as Jack and I walked at a slow pace. "Plus, where we're going right now is where Trick is gonna propose to Jess."

He gasped, covering his mouth with his hands. "Nnn ay!" He said with his hands still over his mouth.

"Yes way," I giggled. "Stay like that."

He did as he was told and held his hands over his mouth. I focused on him and snapped a picture. I reviewed it, giggling. He was adorable.

"I wanna see!" He whined, bouncing up and down.

I was about to hand him the camera when Pete yelled for us to hurry up, or they would leave without us. Jack and I looked at each other, then just took off running towards the van.

I dove into the van, literally. I made sure my camera was okay, then climbed up on the seat. "Well, that was fun," I giggled, cuddling into Pete's side.

*

We parked in a little parking lot about two blocks from the record store where Trick was gonna propose. Patrick wanted it to just seem like we were shopping down here. But, alas, that was not the case. I was getting antsy. Every time we'd go in to a store, I'd beg to leave. I wanted to see Patrick propose and I wanted to see it now.

Pete sighed and dragged me out of the store we were in now, "Stop, okay? I know you're excited, but stop."

"I can't. I'm too excited," I whined, throwing my head back.

"Do you wanna go to Starbucks?" He asked, probably trying to take my mind off of the proposal. It wasn't gonna work.

"Nope," I replied, popping the p. I turned and walked back in the store, skipping over to Jack and Brendon. "Aye."

Jack just laughed and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, "Hi, there. Alex texted me from Rian's phone and told me to tell you he's sorry or something? Why should he be sorry?"

Brendon shot me a look. Fuck, I didn't tell Brendon about last night, and now he was gonna be asking questions. Great.

"Why is he using Rian's phone?" I asked, avoiding the question.

"He broke his in Philly. It apparently fell out of pocket and cracked or whatever. I have no idea," He shrugged.

"That's unfortunate," I mumbled, slipping out of his grasp. I noticed everyone leave the store. I quickly took off after them, following them outside and down the street to the little record store. Yes!

"Aw, Patrick, look! It's the store where we met," Jess smiled, looking at the store. I took a picture of her and Patrick talking about the store, with the store in the background. It was so cute. Jess turned to me, "Why do you keep taking pictures?"

"I happen to like taking pictures, do you have a problem?" I asked, taking another picture of her.

She rolled her eyes and dragged Patrick in the store. And here was the moment I've been waiting for. They walked around the store, just looking. I followed them, subtly taking pictures. Of course, it wasn't that subtle due to the shutter.

While Jess scanned through some records, I watched Patrick pull the ring box out of his pocket. He cleared his throat, took Jess' hand in his, gave her a cute little kiss on the cheek - which I proudly got a picture of - then got down on one knee.

She gasped; her hand flew up to cover her mouth.

"Jessica Evans, will you marry me?" Patrick asked, opening the tiny ring box.

I saw a tear slip down Jess' face as she nodded her head yes. She couldn't formulate a response because of the sheer shock.

And all while this was unfolding, here I was, taking pictures. I was their personal paparazzi.

Patrick stood up and slipped the ring on her finger. Jess quickly cupped his face in her hands and gave him the deepest kiss ever. I could feel the love radiating off of them.

"Get some!" Pete yelled. I looked over at him and shook my head. He just smirked and walked over to me. "Happy now?"

"Insanely. Let's go get Starbucks," I laughed, grabbing his hand and walking out of the store with him.

"God, I love being home," He said as we ran across the street to the little cafe.

"Me too, Pete. Me too," I sighed happily. I was truly happy to be home.