Never Gonna Let You Go

First show of the tour. The first nights are always the most hectic and the most fun. The bands usually had the most energy the first shows, and bands&crews always threw crazy first night parties.

I got dressed to start setting up the merch booth. I threw on my pink and orange striped shirt, ripped jeans, brown boots and some brown bangles. I needed to dress comfy seeing how I’d be walking to and from the bus for about an hour to get all the boxes with shirts and stuff.

“You ready for this, Nicole?” Vinny asked as he gave me a box as we headed into the venue.

“Always am” I said as I gave him a smile. He knew I loved doing my job. Even though I just sold merch I loved interacting with the kids and getting to watch bands perform. We walked into the venue and it was huge. We’ve never played here, and you could tell that tonight was gonna be crazy. Jeff and Mel were already setting up all the lights on stage and all the other merch dudes were setting up.

Me and VInny were almost done setting up our booth when it was time for meet and greet. The crew usually goes back stage to chill while the band meets their fans but I went back to the bus to grab my phone to call my mom. As I went on the bus I saw jack.

“Jack? What are you doing on here? You meet and greet is in like 2 minutes, Flyzik is probably freaking right now” I said as I walked over to him.

“I know! But I cant find my picture of me in front of the home alone house!” he said as I saw him tearing his bunk apart to find the photo. Him and this picture were inseparable. He always had it hung in his bunk.

“Oh my god. How did you lose the damn thing? It was hanging is your bunk when we left!” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, I know” he said as he laughed.

“Listen asshole, I’ll look for it while you go to meet and greet. The fans will be upset if you don’t show, so GO!” I said as I smiled at him.

“AH thank you, thank you, thank you. I owe you!” he said as he gave me a hug and a sloppy kiss on my cheek and he ran off the bus.

I started looking for his photo all over the bus and couldn’t find it either. So I went back to his bunk and looked behind his pillow. And of course, there it was. How did he go through his whole bunk and not see it behind his pillow. Idiot. I got my phone and texted him.

To: Jacky
From: Nicole

Asshole, your photo was behind your pillow!! ☺

From: Nicoleee
To: Jack

Oh my god! Thank you so fucking much, I owe you later! Drinks on me bitch

I laughed as I saw his text and shut my phone off as I headed back into the venue. Meet and greet was over and doors opened in 20 minutes so I went back to the merch booth to meet up with Vinny.

“Where did you disappear to?” Vinny asked

“I went on the bus to call my mom bus got distracted when Jack couldn’t find his
Home Alone photo haha so I helped him find it ” I said as I made sure we had all the shit we needed in the booth.

“You sure you guys weren’t doing anything else?” he said slyly, and then he stuck his tongue out like a child.

“What the hell are you talking about” I asked confused.

“Please we’ve all seen how you guys act around each other. I still don’t understand why you guys aren’t dating” he said. The guys thought we should date? I’ve never actually thought of me and Jack more than just friends…actually that’s a lie. I’ve actually thought about it a lot. But I never say anything cause I don’t wanna ruin my relationship with him. After all we were best friends and I didn’t want to lose that with him, and plus I made a rule to never date anyone on tour.

“Please. Jack and me are best friends, nothing more. And plus I’m not looking for another relationship. I just got out of one a week ago, and we saw how great that was.” I said sarcastically.

“Well, we all see it. I wont be surprised if anything happens this tour” he said.

“Whatever you said Vegas” I said as I pushed him, and knocked him off balance.

The doors opened and the kids started coming in. Some went straight to the stage, and the others were getting merch. All Time Low fans were crazy (in a good way) so we were always busy selling. We usually ended up selling out in at least one or two shirts every show

About an hour and a half later it was All Time Low’s turn to get on stage. I got excited because even though I’ve seen them perform since 9th grade I never get tired watching them play. They truly were amazing.

As they were playing I started thinking about what Vinny was saying before. They really thought me and jack would date? How long have they thought this? Did jack like me? All the thoughts were rushing through my head when I remembered that night at Club 49. I was dancing with Jack, when he wanted to tell me something important. But as he was gonna tell me I saw Charlie making out with that whore. Shit what was he going to tell me. This was going to bug me until I found out.

I got out of my thought when I heard Alex say “Thank you so fucking much New York! This will be our last song, we hope you had a great time tonight. We love you guys so fucking much!” and they started playing Dear Maria like always.

After the concert I went back on the bus to change. All the bands were signing for the fans outside the venue so I had time to get ready for the party tonight. I was so excited. Finally getting to hangout with all the bands and just chill. I know everybody is definitely going to shit faced to night.

I wasn’t going to dress up for tonight. I put black wash out jeans on, a gray shirt with the British flag printed on it, and black boots. My hair was a mess from the concert so I straightened it as fast as I could because I knew the boys would be busting in on the bus soon to get dressed and not let me finish whatever I was doing so I rushed.

An hour later everybody was ready and we headed outside. Hey Monday’s tour manager set up a couple tents by the buses and it actually looked really cute. Everything was set up with lights and food and too many bottles of liquor to count.

A few shots in and I was already drunk. I was hanging around Cassadee and Mike Gentile from Hey Monday. We were just talking about random shit when Mike spilled his drink on me by accident.

“Shit Nicole, I am soo sooo so sorry” he said. He was obviously drunk, but I just laughed it off.

“Don’t even worry about it, it was a mistake!” I said. Cass passed me some napkins and I tried wiping the excess liquid off.

“I’ll be right back guys I’m just gonna go change my shirt” and I walked to the bus. But before I could get there Jack stopped me.

“NICOOOOLE! What the fuck happened to your shirt?” he said as he tried not to laugh but failed.

“Mike spilled his drink on my by accident. No biggie. This party is sick. You having fun?” I asked.

“Hell yeah, but hangout with me! I haven’t seen you all day besides when we were on the bus before! I miss you” he said and he frowned.

“Oh yeah, that reminds me! You owe me a drink Jacko!” I said as I pulled him towards the bar that was set up, completely forgetting about my soaked shirt.

“Haha you’re right, and thanks again for finding the picture! So what would you like Mr. Barakat to make you?” he said behind the bar. He was trying to speak in a British accent like he did every time he was drunk and all I could do was laugh. He was horrible and doing accents.

“Umm..hmm. Make it a surprise!” I said as I smiled.

He started making my drink and we started talking. “So how have ya been since the whole Charlie thing” he asked.

“Eh I’m good now. I was shocked at first but I’m actually kind of relieved that were not together anymore” I said as jack handed me a drink. I took a sip and all it was, was vodka and cranberry juice, but I didn’t even bother complaining, I drank it anyway.

“Good you don’t need him. He was a douche. None of us ever liked him” he said as he got out behind the bar and stood next to me and he put his arm around me.

After a couple more drinks with jack and I was so sloppy. I couldn’t even stand straight.

“Soo jacko I havvve a qu-question to asssk you” I said as I slurred my words together.

“Oh really, and what is that?” he said laughing at me because he knew I was really drunk.

“That night at, at Club 49 when we were danc-dancing, you wan-wanted to tell me something. Wha-what did you wannna tell meee” I said as I wrapped my arms around his neck to keep balance.

“Ohh um I don’t remember Nicole. Tha-that was a week ago hah” I could tell he was fidgety as he talked.

“Jaccck were y0u gonna tell me you liiiked me. Apparently everyone thinks we neeed to daaaate thanks what vinny vegaaas said” I said not really paying attention to what I was saying.

“Nicole, you’re drunk we shouldn’t have this conversation when your not even gonna remember it in the morning” Jack said as he tried to sit me down at a bench by the buses.

“No no. I-I am nott drunk, just tell me” right after I said that I fell off of the bench I was sitting on.

“Shit, are you okay” Jack said and he sounded concerned. He picked me up from the ground and brought me to the bus.

He laid me in my bed and all I was thinking was that I wanted him to tell me what he was gonna tell me last week.

“Jack?” I said quietly. He pulled the covers over me and answered.

“Yeah Nicole?” he said as he took a seat at the end of my bunk

“I know you probably don’t feel the same, But-but …I kinda have feelings for you” I knew I would regret saying this in the morning but I was drunk and couldn’t control what I was saying. I look up at jack and he was just staring at me. He looked shocked and confused. Shit. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything.

“…Im sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. Just forget what I sa-“ By my surprise he pulled my face closer to me and started kissing me. I was shocked as hell but I kissed back. I felt comfortable in his arms.

He pulled away and kissed my forehead. “You know how long I’ve waited to hear that? I like you too. That’s what I was gonna tell you at the club” he said as he smiled.