Take Your Time

January 12th 2012
Los Angeles, CA

She was beyond pissed off.

Oh yes, if it wasn’t not bad enought that her camera ran out of battery because she used it to take pictures, lots of pictures during breakfast, she can’t find Dan anywhere if she wanted to get to the car so she can get her stupid spare batteries.

Addie was so upset, she could kill someone if the person were to mess with her in any way at that time. Just a mere bump could set her off, she was a mine waiting for someone to be stupid enough to step on her. She couldn’t believe her luck... the non existent one.

After thirty minutes of wandering in the slightly chilly California winter air, she took refuge sitting by the nearly empty stage with only a few people left cleaning up the mess. She had nothing else to do, so she took out her phone to play Hangman.

Just her luck, her stupid Blackberry ran out of battery... well at least it had a half bar left in it. She resisted the urge to throw the gadget across the room and stood up. She stormed off outside of the venue back outside, but she was still out of place.

Dear God.

“Just look at Blair, man, and then look at Dan, they just don’t fit. Chuck belongs with Blair, they were made for each other, I don’t get it.” She heard in the empty parking lot. She turned her head to see Godsey and Stephen walking together, probably drunk judging from the bottles in their hands.

Will they ever stop? She rolled her eyes before running off, but she was a little worried about the two. She was aware of how drunk they were, and how someone should probably take care of them, because no one would want them to cause any trouble.

She stopped at her tracks and blessed herself for being such a nice person, too nice. She turned around and walked over to them, just in time for Stephen to fall on her. Well, at least she knew if she was a little late he would’ve hit the ground.

“Addie! Great seeing you here, how are you, little girl?” Stephen slurred. The smell of alcohol made her scrunch her nose, hoping that they would remember to take a shower later despite the pretty cold weather.

She helped him stand up and shook her head, “Someone should help you,” She muttered and reached for her phone. Then she remembered, she was out of battery. Seriously, she was ready to throw Stephen’s head on the ground until it bleeds. “You’re drunk!”

“We’re not drunk, we’re intoxicated.” Godsey chimed in, making her want to punch him in the face.

Being the ticking time bomb she was, she finally pushed them off. She didnt’ say a thing as she walked to the vans, hoping to find someone who can help the drunk musicians talking about Gossip Girl. Why they were talking about Gossip Girl, and how they even know who Blair, Chuck, and Dan are was anyones’s guess.

She practically ran to the vans, and she couldn’t help but smile when she saw John and Brian. At least there was a person she could properly talk to. “Addie! Dan was looking for you everywhere.” John told her when they got to them.

She raised her eyebrows, “He did? I looked for him for hours!” She exclaimed, not realizing how friendly she sounded. Seriously though, how come her path didn’t cross Dan’s? She practically looked everywhere! Just when she was about to ask where her mentor was, she remembered Stephen and Godsey. “Um... Stephen and Godsey are really drunk and I’m afraid they will get into trouble or something...” She trailed off at her last words.

“They’ll be fine.” Brian waved it off, drinking his beer. “They’re always like that, we’re pretty much used to it. I guess you’ve met happy drunk Stephen then?”

“He fell on me.” She mumbled, still standing awkwardly in front of the two relaxed The Summer Set members. They were basically sitting on the sidewalk, and she felt tall for once in her life, as pathetic as that sounded.

John laughed at her answer, “Is Godsey talking about Gossip Girl?” He asked, and she nodded slowly as she stared at him weirdly. “Take this seat, I’d be crazy if I don’t take a video of him again.” He stood up before walking off to the direction she came from.

She stood there for a few seconds before sitting down beside Brian, just a foot away from him for her own personal space. The first time she met Brian, she pushed him away so badly she was pretty sure he hated her, so she was unsure of what his response might be.

The first thing she noticed was the Blackberry power bank in his hands, along with his phone. She’d love to use his power bank, but she’d dread to ask him for it. It’d be inappropriate for her to ask for a favor when the last time they met she practically rejected him.

“Did you fall with him?” Brian asked to start a conversation. It surprised her that he still wanted to, considering how she started the whole connection between them on a bad foot.

She shook her head, “I’m strong enough to hold up a skinny ass bassist.” A slight smile formed on her face at his attempt, happy that she hadn’t messed this whole socializing crap the first day she came here.

“I like the words you used.”

“Thank you.”

She bit her bottom lip for a few seconds before finally asking him, “May I borrow your power bank?” She looked at him, nervous somehow. It was a stupid thing to be nervous of, a power bank, but she really couldn’t live with her phone.

He looked at her, the power bank in his hands, and at her again. “It’s for a Blackberry.” He said, as if it was something obvious. Of course it was, she’d recognize it anywhere. She dreaded the fact that she doesn’t have a power bank, she never got the time to buy one.

“I know, I use a Blackberry.” She answered quietly, now even more nervous. She didn’t like how he reacted, but again she wasn’t sure how she wanted him to act, she just wanted that stupid power bank.

“Really? Everyone bashes me for it.” He informed her with a chuckle before handing the square shaped device to her, “Here, use it, fellow Blackberry user.” He smiled.

She let out a sigh of relieve, “Thank you.” She took out her phone before charging it, knowing it was going to take ten minutes to at least get to one bar and for her Blackberry’s connection to be on again. She could only imagine how many BBMs she will receive when that happens, she has gotten a lot of response from her model friends earlier, telling her that they missed her a little too much. “Why bash?”

He laughed, “They compare it to the mighty iPhone, but a Blackberry is enough for me, I don’t need those fancy apps.” He told her.

“A Blackberry can be stupid at times, though, especially BBM.” She complained, putting her phone between them. The amount of crap she had to put up with her phone was almost unbearable, but iPhone’s too fancy for her liking, and mainstream.

Brian nodded, “I know your pain.” He answered, and the tone in his voice told her he really did. She liked it when people are sincere like that, honest. “Hey give me your pin, I’ll add you.”

She was silent for a few seconds, “Yeah... yeah of course, that’s a great idea.” She answered, though she sounded a little unsure. “212430BC.” She told him.

He typed a few things on his phone before smiling, “Added, wait for it when your phone’s on.” He said and stuck his phone in his pocket again. “Why are you like this?”

She raised her eyebrows, “I’m sorry?” She asked, feeling offended at the least bit. Who was he to judge what she was like, what did he know? It was clear in her tone how offended she was, and she hoped he could pick it up.

He shrugged, “You know, quiet, cool at times, nearly mute.” He listed down her characteristics, at least the ones he could remember. There were so many things he should remember he was amazed his brain hadn’t exploded yet.

“You’re saying it as if I never said a thing.” She muttered quietly, though she was used to it all. She wasn’t mute, she just didn’t like talking, if she was mute she wouldn’t have said a thing since she came here, but she did.

“I did say nearly.” He pointed out. She hated the fact that he was right, but she had to admit he’s got a point. Still, if someone asked Dan, he’d say that she’s far from mute, she could be loud if she wanted to.

“But nearly means nearer to the adjective that follows the word, you said mute, it means you think I’m more mute than normal people, somewhere in between, probably around seventy five percent, yes?” She gave him a half smile.

He chuckled at her words before replying, “Maybe sixty five percent. Compared to your first day, you’re getting better at this socializing thing, though.”

She groaned, “Dan told you about the socializing thing, didn’t he?”

“So you think I wouldn’t be talking to you right now if it wasn’t for him?” He asked her, faking a gasp and an offended expression. “I thought we were friends, Addie.” He pouted.

She could only give him a small smile, “I’ve always been like this, I don’t understand you
people, just because I’m not like you doesn’t mean I’m not normal.” She answered his question earlier.

“I’m not saying that you’re not normal, I’m asking why.” Brian replied.

She sighed, “I don’t know, I just am. I don’t talk much but I think you can’t ask why a person has a certain trait.” She replied, realizing that she was opening herself up again. Still, she had to admit, Brian was a nice person to be around.

He shrugged, thinking of what to say for a few seconds before saying, “Ask me something about my trait, anything.” He challenged.

“Why do you sound like that?” She asked rather rudely in her opinion, but he asked for it. “I don’t like your voice it’s like a duck’s.” She muttered the last part, afraid that she had asked too far.

He laughed at her question, “I had a feeling you’d ask me that.” He replied. “I was born like this...” Realizing his answer, he grinned at her, “And I see your point.”

She couldn’t help but smile at his response, at least he picked that up. “Glad you do.” She replied. “A lot of people like your voice, though, your fans seem to like it, said it’s lovely and made them wet their panties.”

“I wouldn’t be here without them... wet their panties?” He frowned at her. His expression was a micture of confusion and some kind of... delight? She couldn’t quite put her finger on it but boys will be boys.

She shrugged, “Yeah, I read it on Tumblr or somewhere... apparently people like to think you’re attractive... a lot of people dislike you as well though, I think.”

“I knew about that, blame Brian Dales, that’s what they did on my birthday.” He chuckled.

She couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, “When was that?”

“Months ago.” He answered simply.

“Must be fun.” She quietly answered, checking his phone to find that her phone was on already, and there was a request from him. She accepted it and couldn’t help but snort at his personal message, “Cool personal message.” She said. “I’m helpless,” she read in a mocking tone.

He took out his phone to check her personal message and chuckled when he read it, “I’m with idiots,” He mocked her back in return. “We’re not idiots.”

She cleared her throat, “Josh.” She coughed out, trying to conceal her answer although it was pretty obvious.

“He’s not an idiot.”

“He’s annoying.”

“But not an idiot.”

She finally surrendered, “Fine.” She rolled her eyes.

He checked the time and smiled, “To the bar!” He exclaimed before pulling her so she stood up. She grabbed her phone just in time to keep it from falling off her lap, it was the second most important thing in her life after all.

“Go away!” She actually laughed as he pulled her. She tried to pull herself away from his grip, but his grip was may firmer that Dan’s.

“Hey! No harrassing the girl!” They heard. She stopped struggling from Brian’s grip and turned her head to see her beloved mentor... kind of. She wasn’t sure if ‘beloved’ was the right term.

Brian seemed to pick up the signs because he let go of her wrist. “When are we going back?” She asked, rubbing her right wrist with her left hand as it hurt a little, the singer sure has a strong grip.

“Now, I’ve been looking for you since hours ago.”

“I’ve been looking for you too, I ran out of battery!”

The older photographer glanced at Brian for a few seconds before motioning Addie to get closer to him. The young woman approached him casually, not understanding why he was like that. “What was that?” He asked.

“What was what?” She tilted her head slightly, not understanding what he was saying. After staring at him for a few seconds, she finally understood what he meant and shrugged. “I’m... socializing.”

“Good.” He gave her a proud smile. "To the bar!" He exclaimed.

She groaned, "Stephen and Godsey are drunk already!" She protested.

Brian shrugged, "I'm not, yet."

"I hate all of you."