Memories That Fade Like Photographs

“Kara, where are we going?” I asked for the billionth time since we’ve been in the car, we drove in circles. We made rights, lefts, and almost hit the car in front of us; I would be lying if I wasn’t scared for my life.

“Fine, since you won’t shut up. I’ll tell you.” She said and I waited; she never told me though and my patients were running out. I was going to start yelling at her but she parked and turned the engine off and sang, “We’re here!”

I looked outside the passenger window to see where exactly here was. Turns out we drove all the way to a small restaurant. “What are we doing here?” I asked.

“The boys have a gig and they didn’t tell you because there’s a song Alex wrote for Lisa, and they’re playing it.”

“Why’d he write a song for her?” I was now extremely confused. He wrote her a song after he just broke up with her? What the hell is this about? “It’s more of him saying she’s a bitch and telling her he’s done with all her bullshit. Also they’re singing it tonight because she’ll be working tonight – since she works here – and he just really wanted you to be here because he really freaking likes you.”

I smiled, “I know.”

“You are seriously falling for this boy fast… Wait, what about Jack? I thought you were going on a date with him tomorrow?”

“Shit, I totally forgot!” I mentally slapped myself. “It’s only one date, nothing serious. If he thinks its more than just friends then I’ll let him down gently?” I said reassuring myself in the beginning but ending it as a question to myself.

“What if you fall for him too?”

“I- I’m not sure. I guess I won’t be with either of them?”

“That sounds logical. But I know this isn’t the best conversation and I feel really low just talking about them like this. They’re both great guys but if you hurt either of them I’ll kick your ass and if one of them hurts you, I’m sure Rian and Zack will kick their ass.”

I laughed, “And at the end of it all we’re still friends.”

She nodded, “We would never drop a friendship unless you were like Lisa.”

“That bitch can kiss my ass.” I scoffed, “But I’m ready to see them perform. I haven’t seen Zack since the bonfire and I want to see the look of that ugly whores face when he sings what ever song he sings.”

“Well, then let’s go!” she exclaimed. We got out of the car and walked into a packed restaurant. There were a bunch of girls everywhere and I couldn’t help but laugh my ass off. Kara gave me a weird look and asked what was so funny. “There are a bunch of girls here who most likely know nothing about them. They probably just want to get in their pants. My parents probably wouldn’t let me hang out with them once they realize how insane they are.”

“I know what you mean. I remember when Zack’s mom first met Jack. She was afraid for his life because she thought Jack was on drugs.”

“I wouldn’t blame her.” We joked about our friends as we made our way through the crowd. Standing close to the stage we watched as Matt and Zack set up the stage. Zack turned around to pick up a chord but saw both Kara and I. He waved and held his hand out to help us both on stage.

“How are you two doing?” he asked as he went to continue setting up. I shrugged and sat on the stool while Kara completely ignored him to go search for Rian backstage, “Well, I’m doing good. Kara left to find Rian, but like I said I’m good.”

“Oh well, I heard you got suspended?”

I laughed, “It was worth it though.”

“I guess it was, but nice job on the bruise you gave Alex. It’s just as pretty like the girl that gave it to him.” He complimented.

“Thanks, and your flirting is very sweet.”

“I try.” He shrugged and continued to work. Matt went off somewhere, to I guess, find the guys so I stayed and watched Zack set up when he was done he clapped his hands together and came over to me. “So, does your Kat know about your suspension yet?”

I rolled my eyes, “I’m not sure, I haven’t heard from her all day. I’m pretty sure she has though because Bob has her on speed dial for emergencies. I guess this sort of was an emergency. She has a rebel niece to raise now.” I sat up tall and placed my fists on my hips. Zack chuckled and patted my head, “You’re not really that bad”-

“Careful Zachary, I’ve grown up since I was seven. I’m a feisty one.” I winked.

He laughed, “I bet you are and obviously you’ve grown since. I mean look at you! You’re gorgeous!”

“Whoa, Zack watch your comments. We all know Lucy loves me more.” Jack said as he stepped up right next to me, shooting Zack a playful glare.

“What are you talking about, Jack? She loves me more. I mean, she almost let me get in her pants the night I met her.” Alex jokingly butted in.

I scoffed, “I don’t think any of that is true. And Alex, last I recall, you were being a conceited douche in my foyer while I was eavesdropping. I don’t think I was anywhere near your pants?”

“You could be if you wanted to.” He winked. Then the three boys started fighting over who I loved more. I rolled my eyes and I saw Kara and Rian standing off into the distance. They were both laughing at the scene and I gave them both a ‘help me’ look. They stared at each other, having a telepathic conversation with each other, and then back at me where they nodded approvingly. I guess they knew what I needed. I stood up from the stool and pushed my way out of the group and jumped into Rian’s arms. He held me bridal style and I buried my head in the crook of his neck. “Make it stop Kara!” I said to the drummer’s girlfriend.

“Alex, Jack, Zack! Shut the fuck up! You have an audience already!” she yelled at them. Once they stopped their argument about me they just realized I escaped into Rian’s arms. “What the hell?” Jack and Alex asked in unison.

I smirked and squirmed my way out of his arms, “Sorry boys, but it’s pretty obvious I love Rian more. I mean look at him! Gorgeous eyes, pearly white teeth, luscious curls, and strong arms. What more could I ask for?”

“You remember that Kara and Rian are dating right?” Zack asked as if I were stupid.

“Who said I couldn’t love them both? Geez, Rian you’re such a player. But, I guess I could get use to the whole threesome thing.”

“What?!” all four boys said this time. I looked at Kara and all we did was laugh and exit the stage. The boys were still standing in silence staring at the spot we where just standing but when the crowd started chanting for them they fell out of their trances and put on their best stage performance.

They were actually a lot better live than they were when I saw them practice that one song in the basement. I really liked their song memories don’t fade like photographs. It sort of brought back a lot of memories of my parents. I kept my sanity together though to finish listening to their performance. All in all, they killed it and the crowd loved them. Besides the amazing performance it seemed like Alex and Jack both looked at me a lot while playing. I think I caught a few winks to, but I can’t let either of them phase me. After their song Noel, Alex stood front and center waiting for the crowd to settle down. Once it was quiet he smiled and said, “This next song is new. So new, that the reason for the song happened just this weekend. This song is for my ex-girlfriend who needs to put some things beside her and grow up. She’s here today, and she knows who she is, this song is called The Girl’s a Straight- up Hustler.



Alex continued singing and by now, if I were Lisa, I’d be out the door either pissed off or completely embarrassed and ashamed, but we won’t know her reaction till two weeks from now when she and I both get back. “Thank you Baltimore, have a good night!” Alex screamed into the microphone over the squealing and yelling teenage girls.

“Great show guys! You did amazing!” was the first thing that came out of my mouth when they stepped and hopped off the stage. They all smiled and thanked me, but Alex was the first one to actually thank me, thank me. He wrapped his sweaty arms around my frame and squeezed me tightly whispering, “Thank you for coming Luc, you’re seriously the most amazing people ever.”

I laughed lightly, “You’re very welcome Alex.” And we just stayed hugging each other till Zack yelled, “Gaskank, quit hogging Lucy so we can get some loving to!”

Alex and I both laughed and finally pulled away, I went over to Zack and hugged him first, then to Rian and then finally to Jack. Except when he hugged me he also said something, “You don’t know how much I really adore you, do you?”

“How much?” I asked.

“Like a whole fucking lot, but I’ll continue this talk with you tomorrow at our date. I have to get some things done and Rian is waiting impatiently by the door for you.”

“Oh right, I forgot he was giving me a ride home. Thanks Jack. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I said as I pulled away. But before I took more than two steps he pulled me back kissed my cheek softly and said, “Goodnight Lucy.”

I walked away with a shy smile and a tint of pink cheeks. Rian was smirking at me as I made my way towards him and I shook my head telling him not to ask anything. We turned around and said our goodbyes to everybody, but when I said goodbye to Alex he just looked away very pissed off. What the hell crawled up his pants?



The next day Jack had called me to remind me about our date. He said he’ll be by my house around six thirty and I’m sitting in my living room waiting since its six twenty-five. I dressed a little bit more girly today since it is a date, but not so much that it looks like I was trying.

The doorbell rang and I got up and went to the door. As I opened it, I revealed a very happy looking Jack. “You ready?” he asked. I nodded my head and turned to grab my cell phone and cash that I had laid out for when I left. I called out to my aunt saying I’ll be back soon and then left.

The car ride was silent at first, but you could hear Blink 182 playing in the background. I recognized the song as Always, one of my favorites. I smiled and turned up the song and bobbed my head to it. At a red light, Jack turned to me with a wider smile and said, “You listen to blink?”

I laughed, “Yes, I do. I thought it would be obvious since I wore a blink shirt the first day of school.”

“That was so long ago.” He exaggerated.

“That was Monday, you buffoon.”

He rolled his eyes and then finally looked at me, “Wow, where did this outfit come from?”

“A little shop I like to call, my closet.” I smirked.

“Well, you look great. Do you shop there often?” he asked and started driving again once the light turned green.

I laughed, “Yes, Jack, I do shop there often; probably everyday.”

“That store suits you well then.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” He smiled.

I looked out the window and then realized I didn’t know where we were going. I looked back at him and asked, “So, where is this date of ours going to be?”

“It’s nothing fancy, but I’m bringing you to the best Olive Garden in town.”

“I guess you’re lucky I like Olive Garden. How long do we have till we get there?” I asked and it was silent. Jack didn’t answer but I saw a smirk on his face. I looked at him questioningly and was about to ask again but he yelled, “We’re here!”

“Oh my god, you and Kara both need to learn to just tell people instead of saying we’re here when we get there.” I laughed.

He smiled at me and got of the car quickly. Before I knew it he was at my side of the door helping me out. “What a gentlemen you are.” I gushed.

“A pretty girl like you deserves to have some chivalry.”

“Don’t let your comments get ahead of yourself.”

He held his hands up defensively, “They won’t, I promise.” We smiled at each other and he gently took a hold of my hand and we walked into the restaurant. Jack had reservations and we were seated immediately. We ordered our drinks and food and then sat there talking about the prank with Lisa. Then as it grew quiet, Jack started to get nervous. I looked at him and placed my hand on top of his and reassuringly asked, “Hey, Jack. Are you alright?”

He nodded his head, “Yeah, I’m fine. I just need to tell you something and I’ve never done it before.”

“Just ask me.”

“Okay… well…” he took a deep breath and said, “You see, you’re really different and unique and I like that about you. You don’t care what people have to say about you unless you know it’s true or not. You know how to take jokes and throw jokes back. But what I really wanted to say is that everything about you makes me like you more.” He finished saying. I started to lose trance of my thoughts. Did he just say he likes me? I don’t know how to respond to that… I took a deep breath and realized I should just tell him the truth.

“Jack I really like you too, but I’m not really looking for a relationship. You’re a really nice guy and damn you are a great kisser, but I just can’t see us ever being… together. Sure we get along, and yeah we have great times together, but don’t you think it’s because we enjoy each others company and maybe with a little bit of messing around on the side?”

Jack laughed slightly and nodded his head, “Yeah, I understand. We like each other, but it’s obvious if a relationship happened we wouldn’t work out. I’d rather have your friendship than anything else.”

“I’m glad you see it the way I do. I mean, we could go out on dates and stuff, but not over the top.” I explained.

“I understand.” He chuckled. Our food came and we started to eat. Jack and I learned a lot about each other this evening. I learned that Jack’s favorite movie is Home Alone, his favorite candy is Kit Kat bars, he likes gold fish crackers, and enjoys looking like a fool, but he can also be serious and sentimental. I also learned that he started playing guitar around seventh grade. He wanted to be like Tom Delonge, so he got the piercings, and a guitar similar to his. It was cute if you asked me. And I was happy to hear that Tom inspires him.

Jack also learned about me (since he basically asked me the same questions). He learned that my favorite movie is Pirate’s of the Caribbean, my favorite candy is anything that has peanut butter in it, pop tarts are my comfort food, and I like eavesdropping –which he already knew. He learned that I’ve been playing guitar since I was around seven and my father has his own record company. He questioned me about my fathers business but I honestly told him that I don’t run it, and I don’t have a clue what’s been going on since I moved here.

Finally dinner was over and Jack paid the entire bill, even though I objected. Before we left I sneaked a few bucks for the waitress as a tip and I didn’t feel as bad as I did. We decided on going back to my place to hang out, but upon arrival Aunt Kay was running around, trying to get things together.

“Aunt Katherine, are you going to answer me?” I asked louder and she stopped dead in her tracks and stared at me with an apologetic look. “What is going on?” I asked one last time. Then she took a deep breath and said, “I have to check up on one of the hotels. The chef called and said that one of the machines broke down and the handy man can’t get in till Wednesday. So, since I’m the only other person that knows how to fix the machine, they asked me to fly out there and fix it. My plane leaves in five hours.”

“Oh, well how long will you be gone?” I asked quietly.

She hesitated to answer and finally said, “Two weeks.” My eyes shot open and my mouth fell to the ground. “You’re not going to leave me here alone are you?”

“I don’t know, I don’t want you alone for two weeks since you’re suspended but I, I just don’t”- I cut her off and said, “Aunt Katherine, you can’t leave me here.”

“Okay fine, you have the choice of either staying here, or coming with me to Paris to help out.”

“Paris?” I asked happily but shocked as well. Jack stood in the corner and was almost awestruck as well. He finally spoke, “You’re going to leave me hear with these crazy people?”

Aunt Kay and I turned and looked at him with laughter. Then I replied, “You’ve done it your whole life, I think you’ll live another two weeks. Now, shoo! I have to get packed.” I pushed him out of my house and smiled at him as we stood at my doorway and he said, “I’ll see you in two weeks Lucy, have fun in Paris.” Then he gave me a quick kiss on my lips, and left. I turned around and told my aunt to hush because I could see the questioning and greedy look she gave me, asking for information. “I’ll tell you on the plane. Right now I need to get packed.”