Just The Way I'm Not

A quiet noise came from the other room waking Jack from sleep and only moments later he heard his bedroom door open. Jack already knew who it was so he didn’t even bother getting up or looking over as the bed dipped and the person settled into the empty space next to him.

The tv across the room facing his bed turned on and the person put it on low thinking that he was still sleeping but even with the tv on the lowest volume possible he knew that he wasn’t going to be able to fall back asleep. Now that he was awake, everything that was going to happen that day were running through his head and now he was too excited to go back to sleep.

Jack rolled over onto his side and glanced at the clock to see that it was a little past nine and sighed as he reached over to the bedside table to grab his glasses. Putting them on and then pulling himself up so that his back was resting on the back board, he glanced at the tv then over to the person next to him who gave him a stupid grin.

“What are you doing over here so early?”

“Zo had to take care of some things with Flyzik before we leave today and dropped me off. I didn’t want to be home alone and it’s tradition to have some fun before we leave for tour.” Alex replied with a shrug.

Jack pushed his glasses up on top of his head and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. “What time are the rest of the guys coming?”

“Around noon,” He just nodded and then leaned over to rest his head on Alex’s shoulder and watched the cartoons that his best friend had put on.

After a few moments of silence, Jack felt his stomach grumble and tipped his head back to look up at his best friend from where it rest on his shoulder. Alex looked down and raised a eye brow in silent question and Jack gave him his cutest smile. “Lex, will you make me pancakes?”

“No, watching cartoons.”

“Pleeeease?!”

“No,”

“Pwease?” He asked using his best adorable baby voice that usually worked on his best friend.

“No. Make them yourself. This is your apartment after all.”

Jack glared and crossed his arms with a huff. “You know, every other time I want food someone else makes it because ‘I can’t be trusted in the kitchen’. But now because you’re watching cartoons you won’t. Where’s the justice in that?”

Finally he was able to get a reaction out of Alex and his best friend turned his head to glare at the younger boy. “Really?”

“Really!” Jack replied with another sweet smile. “Please Lexy? You’re pancakes are so yummy! I need some deliciousness if I’m going to survive the long plane ride to England today.” Alex just ignored him again and Jack suddenly came up with another way to get his best friend to make him food. “You know, it’ll be a long plane ride if I don’t eat something before we leave.”

“You’re that desperate to get food that you’re blackmailing me over pancakes?” Alex asked as Jack just shrugged and nodded. “Fine, I’ll make your damn pancakes.”

Jack cheered as Alex tossed the remote on the bed not bothering to turn it off as he got up and headed toward the door. Jack followed behind his friend and sat on one of the barstools that was sitting under the window of the kitchen that faced the rest of the apartment. Alex busied himself in the kitchen grabbing the pans and things and just as he was about to put the first of the batter in the pan, Jack’s front door opened.

“Oh I want to hire Alex as my maid too!” Rian said as he dumped his bag by the front door and Zack did the same time.

“He has a naughty maid costume too but he refused to wear it.” Jack replied as Alex flipped him off. “What is with all you guys getting here so early? This is the only time any of you have actually been on time for something.”

Zack just shrugged as he took the stool next to Jack, “We knew that you somehow got Alex to make food and decided to come over.”

“I hate you all,” Alex mumbled as he started telling Rian to grab things from the cupboards.

“So what was it this time? Did he pretend to pass out again?” Rian asked as he handed Alex the things he asked for.

Jack smirked as Alex answered the drummer, “no. This time he decided to blackmail me and said that he would make my life a living nightmare on the plane if he didn’t get his pancakes.”

“Those weren’t the exact words I used,”

“It was close enough,” Rian and Zack just laughed more as Alex continued to cook.

They put some music on and continued talking while Alex grumbled the whole time. When he finished, they all went to Jack’s living room and found a random channel on the tv to watch while they ate. After they finished, no one bothered to get up and clean up their mess and just stayed where they were watching the horrible morning shows that were on.

“What time will Flyzik be here to go to the airport?” Rian asked as Jack glanced over to the clock to see that it was a little past eleven.

“Um I think quarter after twelve,” Alex replied as Jack sighed. That meant he had only about hour to get ready. He forced himself up and towards his bedroom to grab some clothes so he could get a shower.

He took a quick shower and then went to shove a few last minute things in his bags before checking to make sure he had everything. When he was positive he did, he zipped his bags up and then took them back into the main room and set them next to the others and then flopped back down on the couch. Sometime while he had been in the shower, someone had cleaned up so he didn’t have to worry about rushing to make sure he didn’t leave any dirty plates around while they were gone for the few months they would be in the UK.

By the time he had finished, it was nearly noon and only a few minutes later, Alex’s phone rang to tell them that the van was there. They shut off the tv and grabbed their things and headed down. Jack made sure to double check his apartment for anything he might had forgotten to do and walked down to the door while Alex, who had stayed to wait for him.

When they got outside, Rian and Zack were already shoving their things in the back of the van and then noticed that Colussy was helping them. Jack gave him a funny look as he headed over to the others and handed one of his bags to their old assistant manager.

“What are you doing here?” Jack asked as he hugged him.

“I had to see my boys off before they leave on their big tour.” Colussy replied as he finished putting the bags in the van.

“Aren’t you leaving for Wisconsin today?” Alex asked.

Colussy shrugged and nodded, “yeah but I’m not leaving until two and wanted to see you guys off. Besides Flyzik called and asked since I do owe him for helping me finish my last minute packing.”

“Well it’s good to see you man,” Rian replied as they all climbed in the van and Colussy began driving toward the airport.

When they got there, he found a spot to park in the drop off area and called Flyzik to tell them they were there. As they were getting out and grabbing their bags, the rest of the crew were walking over. Flyzik and the rest of the crew had gone ahead to get all the gear and things to the airport and marked properly so that they would be sent off and get to London around the same time that they would get there.

“Did they behave?” Flyzik asked Colussy as he walked over and hugged him. The rest of the crew was right behind him and hugged the rest of them and all started talking at once about their upcoming adventures.

“Zo!” Jack yelled as he threw himself at the girl. She had been by Alex hugging him and she laughed as he pulled her in for a hug. The poor girl had been so busy getting ready for the tour with Flyzik that she had barely had any time to just relax while they had the week off and that was actually the first time Jack had seen her since the last tour had ended.

“Hey Jackalope, what’s up?” She laughed as they pulled apart from their hug and she tucked herself into Alex’s side again.

Flyzik gave them a little time to say hi to Colussy and say bye to him since he was moving to Wisconsin that day and it would probably be the last time they would see him for a while. Then their tour manager rounded them up and got them inside the airport so they could check their bags and then head up to the terminal.

As they were walking, Jack was talking to Rian when a girl caught his eye. She was with a group of people who he figured was her friends and was laughing at something. He really didn’t know why he had singled her out to glance up but was glad he did because he suddenly caught her eye and she gave a smile to him. He returned the smile and couldn’t help but blush a little. She was really pretty.

He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt someone punch him. Glancing over, he realized that Alex had asked him something and he didn’t even hear it. He asked him to repeat what he said as he glanced back again but saw that the girl was gone. Pouting slightly, he answered Alex and couldn’t help but glance back once more to see if he could find her. But he couldn’t.

“Hey, did you hear that the drummer in the band that’s also from Maryland is deaf?” Rian asked after they all regrouped after they checked their bags and were now heading up to their gate.

There were three bands that were joining them for their UK tour. The first two were You Me At Six and We Are The In Crowd and the third was a new band that was just starting out but was getting popular quickly. The first two they knew really well. They had done a few other tours with them so they all were really good friends with them, but the third band they had never met before. But it wasn’t a big deal since they all usually befriended new bands right away.

“Really?” Zo asked as Rian nodded.

“Yeah I can’t wait to see what they’re like. It’s going to be really cool.”

They all agreed and stared a new subject as they found their gate and settled down waiting. They had gotten there three hours ahead of time and by the time they had all gotten through security; they had a hour and a half to wait. Jack, Alex, Zo, and Flyzik all found seats together and while Flyzik and Zo continued to discuss tour things Alex and Jack settled on keeping up a light conversation while they played with their phones.

Jack’s phone vibrated as a new text came in and he opened it and couldn’t help but smile when he saw who it was from.

From: May
Hey baby bro, just wanted to say hi and wish you a safe flight. I’ll see you in a few weeks!

He smiled as he hit reply.

To: May
Thanks sis! You better bring me snacks. I’ll call you when I get there.

Their flight was announced just as his phone vibrated once more a few minutes later and he followed the rest of the guys to the line as the other passengers started to board the plane.

From: May
I’ll have to see about that. And you sure as hell are going to call me when you land. I have to make sure my baby bro is ok. Say hi to the other guys for me.

He replied once more before walking down the ramp to the plane. He and Alex had the seats next to each other and the rest of the guys were scattered around them taking up most of first class. Zo and Flyzik were across the aisle from them and Vinny and Jeff where sitting behind them which was going to turn out interesting to say the least.

“No funny business Barakat!” Jeff said as he turned to face them from where he was sitting in front of them with Grieco.

Jack tried to give him the best innocent look he had. “What me?”

“Yes you!” Jeff replied as he pointed to Alex. “That goes for you too Gaskarth!”

“What! I was planning to sleep the whole flight!” Alex answered as he and Jack shared an evil look. “But now that you said something we might just have to do something to you when you least expect it!” Jack cheered and high fived Alex and they both started to giggle.

It took a while for the rest of the passengers to get on and finally once they did the flight attendants started to go through the emergency procedures that Jack nearly had memorized. They flew so much that he didn’t even bother to listen anymore. Instead played with his phone and sent off a few more texts before he had to turn off his phone.

Then finally they were moving. Jack couldn’t help the grin that grew on his face as the plane began to head toward the runway. He was so excited for the tour. The UK was always one of his favorite places to go and he knew the others felt the same. Thankfully they went at least once a year so he didn’t have to wait for forever to go and see some of their friends that lived over there. Once they were in the air, he busied himself with his phone once more and put some music on.

It was a long flight, but to Jack, it was worth it. He couldn’t wait to see how this tour turned out. Something told him that it was going to be one he wouldn’t ever forget…