Rian Dawson (All Time Low)

A loud crashing sound startles you awake from a pleasant dream. You instinctively reach out to find the spot next to you in bed empty. When you went to bed at midnight Rian still wasn't home, but squinting at the alarm clock you were shocked to see its 5am. Another loud crash reminds you someone was in your house and you didn't know who it was or how many people were downstairs.

Taking a deep breath you carefully throw the bed sheets off and slowly get out of bed trying not to make a sound. You kept a baseball bat just under the bed for those times when Rian wasn't here. Call it paranoia, but you'd watched enough true crime shows to know you could become a target being alone in a nice house.

Creeping out of the bedroom, you're taken aback to see all the lights on downstairs which burglars wouldn't do because they wouldn't want to be seen when committing a crime. Just what was going on down there? So you walk downstairs avoiding the creaky steps.

'Dude be quiet--'

'Shut up Rian.'

Relief washes over you as you recognise Rian and Jack's voices. You weren't being robbed, so you put the bat down against the open doorway leading into the kitchen. You fold your arms across your chest at the scene in front of you.

You clear your throat, 'good morning boys, what's happening?'

The two grown men jump back startled staring at you like deers caught in the headlights. Your eyes are drawn to the half-eaten chocolate cake in between them, the cake you'd only baked earlier in the day.

'Breakfast,' Rian mumbles.

You sigh, 'that's chocolate cake babe.'

Jack shrugs his shoulders grinning like a child, 'your point y/n?'

'It's five in the morning,' you reply with a yawn.

Rian pouts, 'your point y/n?'

It was kind of creepy when the two of them synced up, but right now all you wanted to do was go back to bed so you couldn't care less what they did.

'Okay, eat your cake and then off to bed, good night.'

'Don't you mean good morning babe?' Rian jokes.

You give your partner a colourful finger gesture and leave the kitchen. They were both drunk.

Once back in bed, you pick up your phone to see a new message from Lisa.

LISA: The guys were trying their new wine and had a little too much

Y/N: Rian and Jack are eating chocolate cake in the kitchen. Why do we love these idiots?

LISA: Don't ask me. Alex says hi

Y/N: Say hi back to him, now I'm going back to bed

Putting your phone back on the bedside table you try to get comfortable. Around thirty minutes later Rian stumbles into the bedroom and gets undressed, before climbing into bed with you.

'I love you y/n,' he mumbles quietly.

You can't keep the smile off your face as he cuddles you from behind, 'I love you too, now get some sleep.'

Before you knew it Rian is asleep while you remain awake. Oh, there was going to be hell to pay in a few hours.

How i read fics

Kalina’s Summer 2022 Fanfiction Contest

Update: July 29, 2022. Surprise! I’m extending the deadline to enter and submit. I had some late interest in the contest and I want as many entries as possible. So if you wanted to enter before and didn’t get a chance to, you can now!

In an attempt to generate more fics for this fandom, I will be holding a contest! I’ve thought a lot about due dates and themes and such, and I think I’ve come up with a cohesive (though tentative!) plan. I just want us to all have more to read and I want to give you all some inspiration and drive to write! I do want to thank the lovely mods over at @alltimefanfiction because I was very inspired by them and their frequent fic contests. Check them out! Anyway, click the read more to read the rules and see how you can take part in the contest. 

For this contest, I will be using a trope randomizer. Each contestant will be given a trope at random and must center their fic around that trope somehow. Other than that, you have total creative freedom. I think that it would be best if these fics only have one part, however, because it will be much easier for me to keep track of everyone’s stories. I am going to make a limit of twenty contestants (though I doubt I will have that many) just because it will take time for everyone to finish writing and for me to read all of the fics. If you’re interested, let me know off anon and I will add your name (or username, whatever you prefer) to the list of contestants. I will also give you your randomized trope. Of course, if you are not comfortable with the trope you are given, please do not hesitate to let me know. Additionally, if there is anything you are not comfortable with that you already know of, do let me know with the first message. 

Rules: 

1. Minimum of words. No maximum, but if it’s gonna be 20k or above, try to let me know beforehand lol.

2. You may write about any pairing (or poly relationship) you want. It can be atl band/atl band, atl band/atl crew, atl crew/atl crew, atl band/other band, atl band/oc, etc. You also don’t have to have a particular pairing if you don’t want to

3. Your story must be written after you receive your trope. Do not post something that was already prewritten (unless it was in very early stages and receives heavy revision). 

4. You can post on whatever platform you prefer, but I am going to recommend AO3 as it is the easiest and most user-friendly.

5. Once again, only twenty people can enter. 

6. If you happen to change your username or switch blogs during the contest, let me know so I don’t lose you. 

Deadlines: 

Please enter by Monday, August 8th so that I can get the ball rolling. Once school starts for me, I will progressively get busier and busier and I do not want to make you guys wait a long time for results. 

Your entries should be posted by Saturday, October 8th. School will be in session for me by then, but I also don’t want you guys to feel rushed. If all entrants finish before that date, great, but do not worry about rushing to get finished. If you need an extension, just please let me know as soon as possible. 

If you want to drop out, please let me know as soon as possible. 

Prizes: TBD 

Please send me asks/messages about what you guys might want! I have a few ideas in mind, but I wanna hear from you guys. I’ll try to get those figured out this week, so long as things go well lol. I think we’ll have three places with prizes for all.

I’m so excited about this and I know a lot of y’all are, too. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send me a message or an ask. I hope to hear from y’all soon! I’ll be tagging this post and all others following about the contest as #ksfc. 

Entrants: 

1. razz @astrophysicist-not-princess

2. liv @atlfics

3. mell @melljunee

4. eve @ocalaghan

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: All Time Low (Band), Jasey Rae - All Time Low (Song) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Jack Barakat & Original Female Character(s), Alex Gaskarth/Original Female Character(s) Characters: Alex Gaskarth, Jack Barakat, Zack Merrick, Rian Dawson, Jasey Rae, Original Female Character(s) Additional Tags: young adult, all time low - Freeform, chosen family, Dysfunctional Family Summary:

Jasey Rae Thomas can't remember the last time she felt truly happy. After her parents' traumatic divorce, her mother became a different person and so did Jasey. Years later, when legal troubles come up and Jasey's mother is no longer fit to parent her, Jasey is relocated to what feels like a strange trip to the past. She goes to seek refuge for the summer with an old family friend and her son, Alex, who used to be Jasey's closest friend growing up. She hopes she can fit into her old life or salvage some happy memories from the past. But Jasey is keeping secrets and it's only a matter of time before her darker sides come to light. Will she ever be able to heal and move forward, or will it all just blow up in her face?

Cake On Your Birthday - Alex Gaskarth Imagine

Pairing: Alex Gaskarth x Reader

Word Count: 624

Warnings: One cuss word???

Author’s note: Okay so,,,, this is about the song Birthday by All Time Low I’m not sure why I wrote this but I did. Also I have no hate towards Lisa, I just thought this would fit better for Alex :)

“Y/N sweetie? Didn’t All Time Low release a new song?” My mom asked me.

“Yeah it’s called birthday.” I smiled thinking about Lex.

“I hear there’s a music video for it.” Micah remarked with a smirk. “We should watch it.”

“Why do I have a feeling you’ve already seen it?” He shrugged with a little laugh. “Why not, I mean I haven’t seen it.”

I grabbed my laptop and opened YouTube. After finding the video, I turned the screen so everyone could see it.

The video opened up with Alex... tied to a chair. Then Rian also tied to a chair. Then Zack, then Jack, then Alex again. The video only got weirder as it went on. Cake was thrown in their faces, a giant panda showed up at one point, and to top it all off the very awkward synchronized pounding of fist on the table.

By the time the video was done my brother was in hysterics and my mom was utterly confused. “What did I just watch?” My mom asked after a few minutes of silence.

“I-I’m not sure.” I replied, my brother still laughing. “But I do know it had All Time Low written all over it.”

“I’m playing that on your birthday. Wait no you’re wedding!” Micah joked, with a form of seriousness laced in his words.

“Don’t say that around the boys, Jack’ll agree immediately.” laughed along with him.

------

“Lex? Where are you?” I called out.

“Babe?” I followed the sound to the kitchen. “Hey there cutie.”

I stood on my toes and placed my lips on his. “Hiya.” I smiled.

“How was your moms place?”

“Good.” I responded. “We uh watched your music video.”

“Oh uh” He smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Did you like it?”

“Well it was original...” He laughed a bit. “But Micah said he’s gonna play it at our wedding.”

“Our wedding?”

My eyes widened at Alex’s response. “Uh well I mean. Uh I didn’t mean to-”

“Y/N. It’s okay, you’re fine.” He grabbed the sides of my face. “I’m not upset, I promise.”

Alex quickly pressed a kiss to my lips. “I love you, Lex.” I smiled.

“I love you too N/N.”

------

“Happy birthday dork.” I opened eyes to see Alex in front of me.

“Thank you, Lex.” I pecked his cheek.

“Everyone’s downstairs but you looked too cute to wake up.”

I rolled my eyes, getting up. “Give me ten minutes.”

Alex nodded leaving the room. I walked over to my dresser pulling out a Glamour Kills sweater and ripped jeans.

After changing I picked up my phone and walked downstairs. “There she is, the girl of the hour!” Jack exclaimed upon seeing me. “Happy Birthday, freak.”

“Wow thanks Jack.” I sarcastically responded.

“Hey wait I’ve got a video to show everyone.” I turned to Micah who already had the remote to my Roku TV in his hands, ready to open YouTube.

I turned away from the TV to try and find Alex. I spotted him talking to my mom. “Bubs.” I spoke walking towards the pair.

Alex looked over and opened his arms, smiling. “Hello beautiful.” He said wrapping his arms around me.

“Oh shit! I love this song!” Alex and I both looked over to where Jack was stood in front of the TV. The first few cords of Birthday rang out into our living room. Alex let out a laugh as I buried my head into his shoulder.

“Birthday down. Wedding to go.” Micah spoke up after the song finished. The boys ooo’d and Lex laughed again as I rolled my eyes. Although if Alex was as happy as he was now about the song, I would be perfectly fine hearing it then.

Chapter 14: When It Rains It Pours

Chapter Log!

Sometime later on that same day, I'd found myself having drifted farther and farther from the group I'd been in. The longer we'd all lingered around, the more and more our numbers dwindled down. Sooner or later, the sun had begun to sink behind that great big screen, and now as I sat alone on the hill side, only small fleeting rays peaked out in its cracks. I'd sat up there for some time, left alone to my thoughts. Just collecting all the faces and names I’d learned and sliding them into their appropriate slots in my slow filling brain. But it wasn't long before the last of the ice turned to lukewarm water, and the last sip of beer was slugged back. And it was around the time that the Jeep playing music's gas started to drain that Alex began to find his way up on that hill beside me. "You alright?" He asked me once he'd drawn close enough to hear. Eyes bright against the sunset as they stared up at me. "You had me and Juubie a little nervous when you'd wandered off."

"I'm fine." I whispered. Feeling a shift in the air as Alex lowered himself down onto the dead grass. His thigh brushing up against mine. "It wasn’t too much for you, was it?" He wondered aloud. Concern evident in his tone as he turned to look at me from the side. "No, not at all." I smiled, dropping my head down. Eyes grazing my crooked-up knees, the tanned skin scuffed in spots with dirt and sneaker prints. "It was honestly kind of nice to feel normal for a bit." I saw him nod from the edges of my eyes. Then he turned his head back to where I'd been looking before. Watching in silence as the last few specks climbed into the last few cars. And once the dust cloud settled, only Alex's rusted pick-up was left all alone in that big wide field. "You remembered something earlier, when Jack came up to you, didn't you?" Alex asked after a while. His voice as soft as the summer breeze that had my short hair tickling the back of my neck. I turned my head slowly in his direction, thin brows raised. "How did you know that?" I asked him. "I know everything about you Kennedy," He shrugged, searching my eyes for something even I couldn't quite identify. "Even the stuff you're learning about yourself every day." I felt a blush creep up onto my cheeks at the way he said that. It was soft, and it was sincere, but it ran just inches deeper than that. I turned my head away, praying to God my stumpy blonde strands would be just long enough to hid the color change on my skin. But to whether they were or not, Alex never let on. Instead he inched closer, his thigh pressing flush against mine. "So, what was it?" He asked, breath moving my hair he was so close to me now. I smiled softly to myself at the thought of Jack I'd remembered. Standing on Alex's truck, at the brink of being hammered, trying his best to give his friends a speech to remember. And being grateful I did. I swallowed hard, rubbing the sweat from my palms on my knees. "I remembered the first time we celebrated your album." I muttered. My soft-spoken words hard to make out, but I knew that he'd heard them. He shifted in his seat, and I could practically feel his smile shift the atmosphere. "I remember that day," He stuttered back, "You had a lot of fun from what I recall." I nodded, regardless of not being the star of my all too brief flashback. Every time I got one, while I was consumed in it I could feel everything I'd felt the first time around. And watching Jack drunkenly rant as I sat under Alex's arm all those years ago, still filled me with joy. Even just to think about it now, with the feelings faded and far out of reach. I felt happy. "What do you remember about that day?" I asked Alex. Expecting to fill in more and more blanks. Or at the very least have words to form make shift memories to hold my own's place in line for the time being. But instead I was answered with a brief passing silence, followed by one, single, heavily spoken word. "You" I snapped my head away from my knees and over to Alex, only to find his eyes already watching me. Golden orbs played with the light the same way honey teased a bee. Shiny, smooth and inviting. They sparkled at me. They were large and doe-like as they investigated mine. Innocent and all knowing, all at the same time. "What do you mean?" I questioned. Hardly able to get the words out as I staggered through the maze in his mahogany stare. Pupils never moving as they sunk through my skull. "That was the day I realized without a doubt you were the greatest friend I'd ever have in life." It was so simple, yet so complex in the same construct. His words both amazed and confused me. And I had to fight my head to turn and my gaze to tear away. Looking back down on my knees, a frown formed on my face. "I wish I could remember." "You do," He told me, reaching a hand up and placing it on my arm. "It's just tucked away in a place you can't get at yet." I nodded once again, defeat rolling off my shoulders and down to Alex's hand. Its grip stiffened. "Close your eyes." "What, why?" I questioned, scowling still at the grass between my knees. "Just shut your eyes, and listen to me, okay?" He whispered. I sighed but complied anyways and slowly let my lids hang shut. "Now just picture this, you're seventeen. It's the summer time, still the start of July. You're finally cutting loose, starting to drink a little more each time we all gather together. It's the most exciting day we'd had all summer. And Jack is on the tailgate of my truck rambling on and on with some nonsense spiel, when suddenly rain starts to fall from the sky." The more Alex talked, the harder I concentrated on each word he said. And it wasn’t long before I was drifting back in time to a day I'd briefly began to remember already. "Holy Hell!" I practically yelled as I threw myself into the cab of the truck, slamming to door behind me as fast as I could to get out of the rain. But it was already too late. Droplets ran down my legs and soaked my socks, my shirt drenched to the bone as it clung to my skin. I groaned, scrunching my face when the driver's side door swung open, slamming shut just as fast as mine had. But instead of letting out agreeing whines to accompany my own, the boy began to laugh; loudly. I turned my head to look at Alex, eyes so wide he could practically read the words, 'you're insane' in the depths of my pupils. "Well that was certainly unexpected!" The elder chuckled, shaking his hair that looked almost black with the water soaking through it. Locks lumped together dripped small droplets from their ends and onto his thin button nose. "You're telling me!" I scoffed, rolling my eyes and turning away. I pulled the visor down and sighed, seeing the only hint of makeup I'd even bothered to put on smeared down my face. Long streaks and little lumps of mascara littered my perfect tan all under my eyes. I heard Alex laugh, but chose not to listen. Instead I rubbed my fingers along my thighs, collecting remains of the rain before scrubbing at my cheeks. The skin was rubbed red in a matter of seconds, but still the stubborn smears didn’t budge. Not even an inch. I huffed another groan and slapped the visor back up to its original position. I sat there in a silent pout for a second, arms crossed over my chest so tight, water was beginning to ring out of my shirt and onto the beige seat cover. I only moved to snap my head at the sound of more laughter leaving my friend. My eyes instantly found his to already be staring back at me. He was just as soaked as I'd been, if not worse. His bright yellow t-shirt now looked orange as it stuck to parts of his skin and bubbled up in others. Once fluffy locks were pounded flat by the force of the falling water outside which was still pounding down on the roof of his truck. The sound being the only admirable thing the rain had done that afternoon. That is, aside from deflecting the still shining sunlight outside off the droplets pooled on the windshield. Small microscopic rays bounced into the car and through Alex's amber eyes. Igniting a fire in their golden flecks. "What?" I bitterly asked when Alex didn’t cease staring at me. His stare growing deeper and evolving into something indescribable. "What do you mean, what?" He asked, eyes never budging. The only thing moving on him aside from his heaving chest were his lips as they twisted into an almost less than playful smirk. "Can I not look at you?" I huffed, turning my head back forward. Staring now at the wall of rain crashing down on our once clear day. I wasn’t planning on feeding into his foolish antics. He was drunk, or at least mildly buzzed, and I was already too annoyed at the weather to play. But soon enough, the holes he'd been burning in the side of my head drilled a little too deep, and I looked over at him again. Finding his stare right where I'd left it. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I snapped at him. Deflecting my annoyance, but he didn't seem to care. "I'm not looking at you in any particular way..." He shrugged, scooching an inch or so closer to me on the truck's bench. My eyes jumped down to glare at the space between us he'd just lessened. As though in warning. "This is just how I've always looked at you." I rolled my eyes before staring blankly at him again. My expression not radiating even an ounce of amusement. "If you're going to make a joke about my makeup just do it." I muttered. And Alex clicked his tongue, eye brows scrunching as he scooted even closer, his knees now brushing my thigh. "Why would I do that?" He questioned, and I looked to him with my own brows furrowed. I could feel his breath against the chilled trails on my face as he breathed heavily. Hesitantly almost, and slowly lifted a hand to cradle the questioning expression I was shooting at him. "I don't see anything to joke about." "And what is that supposed to mean exactly?" I challenged. Trying my absolute hardest to appear composed under his close proximity and weighing gaze. But it was hard to do anything but focus on the way his calloused thumb rubbed the agitated skin on my cheek so gently. "Just that I think you're beautiful." He whispered, my eyes not even being able to help the way they softened. He didn't dare to move again, keeping his face inches from mine which he held in his hand. "I've always thought that, Dee." "Since when?" I tried to ask, but it came out in a breathless hush. Leaving me to bite my lip as I stared into Alex's eyes. Orbs so close to mine I could have gone cross-eyed. "Since the first day of freshman year, when you walked into me in the hallway." He said, my eyes lowering to watch his lips change shape while he mumbled his quiet words to me. "I thought it was so cute, how nervous you were, how you refused to meet my eyes, just like you are right now..." I could feel the lump in my throat form, but I fought myself to rebel against his words and look up. Regretting it instantly when I immediately got sucked back into his big doe-eyes. It was getting increasingly harder to breath with each passing second. But my breath nearly stopped all together when I suddenly began to notice his eyes growing bigger, slowly shutting with each millimeter closer they drew to me. All the same anxiety began to fill me from the night he'd drunkenly kissed me in my kitchen. A night we had never once discussed or even as much as acknowledged. But here I was again, too late to stop it as I felt Alex's lips brush mine. And instinctively my eyes fell shut, reciprocating it no matter how wrong the little reasoning voice in my head was telling me it was. It started out so innocent, his hand on my jaw, his lips on mine. A pure peck waiting to be released. And just when I thought he would with his hand leaving my jaw, I started to pull away. Only to be tugged right back in as his hand knotted in my rain-soaked hair. Something took over inside me then. I don't know what it was or where it came from, but I certainly had no control over it. Because the next thing I knew, I was tangling my own boney digits in the back of his head, deepening the kiss in my own wrong doing. Soaking in how perfect his lips felt pressed flush against mine. And just like the first time, when I felt Alex's tongue brush against mine. It all faded away. Just as fast as it came. "Dee... Dee... Kennedy!" Alex shook me from my thoughts, literally shook me with his hands on my shoulders. But he really didn’t need to with the way I felt my bones trembling on their own. "Are you okay?" He quickly asked me when I started to blink myself back into reality. "Kennedy, you're crying." I attempted to catch my breath for a moment. My chest heaving, my head spinning, and my nose running as I felt the tears in mention as they dripped down my face. Haunting me of the way the rain had felt on my flesh in the flashback. Slowly, and hesitantly I turned my head. Meeting the eyes, I'd just looked at so closely. Only now they stared back at me completely absent of hidden desire, and instead full of worry and concern. I chocked on the words in my throat for a while. Scattered mumbles and misplaced words fumbled from my mouth till I finally gathered up the strength to spill the one question that had been left to linger on my mind. "Why are you lying to me?" I tried to ask, but it came out more as a strangled sob than an actual question. Confusion beginning to build up, drowning me slowly from the inside out. "What?" He coughed, confusion of his own soon replacing his concern, but not entirely. "Kennedy, what would I have lied about?" "Being my friend!" I sobbed, my hands instinctively moving upward to cradle my throbbing head. "You said you knew I was your best friend that day, but it was a lie! You didn't want to be my best friend anymore." He hung his head at my words, buried his face in his hands and sighed. Leaving me there, sitting next to him in silence, sobbing and confused. I knew in Heinz sight, kissing your best friend wasn’t something to hysterically cry about right in front of them. Especially after they were the one who helped you remember it happening in the first place. But I really don't think those tears were coming from a place of sadness. Above everything else flooding my brain, the most prominent emotion of all was confusion. I was confused, and hurt, and scared. Up until that point, all anyone had lead me on to believe was that Alex was my best friend and nothing more, including him! But now, among everything else that didn’t make sense to me, even that I couldn’t count on as being the truth. It was hard enough as is to try and piece back a life I didn't remember living. But to have to navigate conflicting stories with memories and information I'm given made it all that more troublesome of a feat. "You remembered our fight, didn't you?" He quietly muttered into his hands. So quite in fact, I almost hadn't heard it over my own hiccups and sniffles. "What, no Alex!" I all but snapped, propping myself up on my knees and turning towards him as tears continued to rapidly spill down my cheeks. Completely disregarding his words. "I remembered what happened once it started to rain!" Alex's head slowly lifted at the sound of the sudden anger flowing into my tone. Confusion taking over his once defeated expression. Looking at me now as I stared back at him, pinch lipped and teary eyed. "Best friends don’t just do that!" I hissed once he finally met my stare head on. "What do you mean?" He hurriedly asked, "What are you talking about?" "You kissed me, Alex!" I wailed. My head pounding even harder now with all the emotions building up inside it. Conflicting and confusing me. "Just like you did in my kitchen, you kissed me. Friends don’t kiss friends!" His face suddenly softened once again, resorting back to that confused and worried daze as he gazed back at me. "You remembered that?" He asked, voice dropping dramatically in volume. "Yes!" I hissed, "So, I don't know why you keep lying to me if I knew all along we weren't justfriends." "Kennedy, we were just friends." Alex stressed, "We kissed yes, but we never became anything more." My head was spinning faster and faster with each conflicting sentence he threw at me. I couldn't keep it all in a straight line. Everything I'd gathered about myself was now scattered across the floor. A pile of messy confusion I once again couldn't even begin to comprehend. I looked at him, hurt and anger filling my soul to see nothing but disappointment and something I couldn’t identify clouding his eyes. "I have to go." I suddenly muttered. Not giving him a chance to stop me, I clambered to my feet and took off running back down the hill. Not a clue of which direction to go or how to even get home. I could hear him calling after me, his voice growing softer and softer the further I ran. and I continued to run till his screams faded away and all I could hear was my own conflicted sobs, and my heart beating away. I guess it's true what they say. When it rains, it pours.

Everyone shut the fuck up I’m writing fanfic and listening to All Time Low.

COLD FEET

Paring: Rian Dawson/Reader Rating: PG-13 cause language Triggers: None? Swearing, I think? Word Count: 742 Prompt: Here  Summary: Rian and Reader are ready to go to bed after throwing a successful party, but a problem arises. A/N: This is my first imagine/fic posted on tumblr in a long ass time! I’m kinda nervous about getting back out there, but thank you @gskarth for giving me the inspo to write about my boy Rian! I take requests for imagines of all sorts, so feel free to drop in my inbox if you want to see me write about something/one of the boys in particular!

The day after Rian came home from tour had to have been one of the best days I’ve ever had.

We’d woken up at noon after a night of voracious ‘I missed you/welcome home’ sex, both of us sore as hell and with grins on our faces that couldn’t be removed no matter how hard we tried. After a shared shower, we got dressed and drove to the Starbucks down the street from our house, in desperate need of caffeine. We drank our coffees and then headed home, ready to take on the day and prepare for the barbecue that we would be holding later that afternoon. In the ATL crew, it was tradition for one of the boys to hold a little get together for the rest of the guys in the band and their girls to celebrate the completion of another successful tour. The last party had been hosted by Alex and Lisa, so the responsibility now fell on Rian and I.

The party went flawlessly. Everyone had a wonderful time, and we even got the pleasure of meeting Zack’s new girlfriend, Sabrina. She was a sweet girl—quiet, but with a nice laugh and a warm personality once you got to know her. Just the kind of girl that Zack needed.

Everyone eventually cleared out at around midnight. Well, that’s everyone except for Jack. He was drunk as all fuck, and there was no way I was going to let him drive home like that. So, after a little bit of convincing (and maybe some force) from Rian and myself, Jack was passed out on our couch and snoring away. I made sure he had a water bottle on the coffee table in case he woke up before following Rian upstairs, shutting the door to our bedroom.

“That was a blast, but I’m exhausted.” I whispered, padding across the room to where Rian was changing into his pajamas. He nodded in agreement before slinging his arms around my waist and resting his head in the crook of my neck.

“Taking care of Jack when he’s wasted is like handling a six-foot toddler on a sugar rush.” Rian mumbled, causing me to laugh. It was true. God love him, Jack was my favorite manchild.

“I’m gonna go wash my face and then I’ll join you okay? Love you.” I pressed a quick kiss to his forehead before parting ways and heading towards our in-suite bathroom. Blinking twice, I flicked on the bathroom light and set about doing my nightly ritual. After taking out my contacts, washing my face, brushing my teeth, and throwing my hair up in a bun so it wouldn’t get in my face while I was sleeping, I shut the light off and shuffled out of the bathroom.

Rian was already clad in his pajamas, sprawled across his side of the bed checking Instagram or twitter or something on his phone. “Surprised you’re not passed out already. You partied kind of hard tonight, pops.” I teased as I began rifling through my pajama drawer for something to wear. I came up with one of Rian’s old t-shirts that I had stolen from him awhile past and pair of shorts. After I changed into them, I flopped down in bed. Almost immediately, Rian was rolled over on his side, arm flung around my waist and his head resting on top of my chest.

“Did you really think I would be able to go to sleep without the two best pillows of all?” He asked, signature grin on his face.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re such a fucking dork.”

**

About three hours later, I was jerked out of a sound sleep by Rian shaking my shoulder vigorously. “Y/N! Y/N! Wake up!”

Thinking that our house was on fire because Jack was attempting to cook again, I immediately sprang up. “Whasgonon?” I asked, still not fully awake yet.

Rian rolled his eyes. “You need to stop touching me. Your feet are freezing.”

I narrowed my eyes, doing everything I could to resist the urge to smack him the side of head. “You mean to tell me that you woke me out of a deep sleep, made me think we were about to die—just because my feet are cold?”

“Well yeah! You’re sporting some ice blocks down there!” Rian spoke.

I sighed, flopping back down and rolling over in the opposite direction.

“Remind me to kick your ass tomorrow.”

4 with Rian? I'm sorry if I'm requesting too many of these prompts but they're amazing!

“I can’t wait to see you,” Rian’s voice was soft and raspy as you watched his heavy lids grapple with sleep. You smiled, wishing you could see the crinkles in his skin when he smiled wide, or every small hazel fleck in his chestnut eyes, but unfortunately the quality of your FaceTime conversation wasn’t so generous. 

He had been on tour for months now, and although you would video chat every night, right before you both fell asleep, it still wasn’t the same as cuddling up to him and listening to his breathing slow and his heartbeat even out as he drifted off beside you.

He looked so small and soft, cuddled into his small bunk, holding his phone up above his face so you could see his messy hair splayed over his pillow. “Only one more sleep,” you beamed, your voice hushed as you grinned at your phone screen. You knew it was almost time to say goodnight, watching Rian fall in and out of sleep, a lazy grin on his face.

“Oh, fuck!” he suddenly yelled, your screen going black momentarily. “Ouch,” you heard the man mumble, chuckling slightly as he moved his phone back to show his face again, one eye squeezed shut and a light blush dusting his cheeks. 

“Did you just drop your phone on your face?” you asked, muffling laughter as you watched the man nod hesitantly, an embarrassed smile pulling at his lips. “Okay, I think that’s the universe’s way of telling you you need to sleep,” you said with a laugh and he followed suit, shaking his head at himself. “Goodnight baby,” you whispered, blowing him a kiss.

“Goodnight, I love you,” he chirped back, his words coated with the build-up of a yawn.

“I love you too,” you whispered before the pair of you finally hung up. Rolling over, you finally relaxed into your half-empty bed and slowly drifting to sleep with a smile on your lips.

You practically squealed as you jumped out of bed, sunlight pouring in through the cracks in the curtains, causing you to squint as your eyes adjusted. You were giddy as you skipped towards the bathroom, dancing around in your underwear with your toothbrush hanging from your mouth. Knowing Rian could be home at any given moment gave you butterflies; they fluttered around your stomach excitedly, threatening to force their way into your throat. Buzz. You scrambled for your phone, mouth still filled with toothpaste. On my way, baby :), the message read and your stomach did a front flip.

You were lounged on the sofa watching Kitchen Nightmares and stuffing your face with cereal, whilst simultaneously browsing through Instagram when you finally heard the door open. You practically shot up from the couch, spilling milk from your bowl as you almost threw it down and sprinted for the front door.

He was placing bags beside the front door, distracted, as you lunged for him, wrapping your arms and legs around him tightly and causing him to laugh as he reciprocated, holding you in place on his waist. “Hello to you too,” he teased as you nuzzled into his neck, breathing in his sweet scent and placing delicate kisses on his warm skin.

“Hey,” you whispered pulling back briefly to meet his eyes. Your brows furrowed immediately as you took in his face; a deep shade of purple emerging below his right eye. Rian seemed confused by your expression, until the pad of your thumb moved to caress the tender skin, and he remembered his injury with a sigh.

You removed yourself from him, taking a step back and looking at him more seriously. “Who gave you that black eye?” you asked, your heart thumping as anger began to boil within you.

Rian chuckled, shaking his head as he wrapped his arms around your hips and pulled you back into his chest, but you were rigid with anticipation against him. “You can’t laugh, okay?” he whispered, moving your hair so his lips could ghost the shell of your ear. You furrowed your brow, unsure of what to make of this. “Yano last night, when I dropped my phone on myself?”

You pulled back now, a smirk tugging at your lips as you cocked a brow at the man. His eyes searched yours, a grin etching onto his lips. “You seriously gave yourself a black eye?” you asked incredulously, almost unable to finish before you were laughing and shaking your head, reaching up onto your toes to plant a gentle kiss on the bruised skin.

You're like the sunshine in the lazy days of June (Jalex one-shot)

Description: Pure self-indulgent fluff because I'm feeling a bit lonely. Jack and Alex are lounging around on the tour bus on a chilly day in June.

Also available here on Wattpad.

Alex's POV

It's June, the start of Summer, which means one day you're outside having a BBQ with your friends, and the next you're wrapped up in a jumper trying to remember what the sun looked like. Today, unfortunately, is the latter.

Yesterday was much the former- we all set up deck chairs outside the bus and had a couple drinks, and thinking it would stay that warm I went to sleep in just my boxers with the covers thrown out into the walkway. Unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans, and I woke up absolutely freezing, rolling over and pulling the curtain open I found out someone had nicked my covers in the night- I can't really blame them, I definitely would've done the same.

Blowing out a sharp breath to psych myself up I quickly push myself out of the mild warmth of my bunk and tip-toe jog over to the wardrobe, trying not to wake anyone up. Reaching in I grab the first pair of joggers and hoodie I can find, immediately putting them on, relishing the new found warmth.

I tip-toe back to my bunk to grab my phone, unlocking the screen to check the time- 7:00 A.M. I guess it serves me right for being so cocky with my sleeping attire, I decide there's no point going back to bed- I may as well make use of the extra time I have now with something productive. Heading into the front of the bus I make sure the door to the bunks is closed before putting the kettle on and getting out a mug and the stuff for a coffee. I lean against the counter as I wait for the water to boil, looking down I realise it's Jack's hoodie I'm wearing- I pull the neckline up over my nose and breath in his smell, wrapping my arms around myself.

"You're up early" Jack startles me from the doorway, making me jump a foot in the air. He chuckles as I take a couple deep breaths, walking over to me.

"I didn't hear you come in"

"Some of us are a bit quieter when we know people are still sleeping"

"Sorry" I sheepishly mumble, looking up at him and wrapping my arms around his waist.

"I'm only joking 'Lex, I was already half awake anyway, it's too damn cold to sleep" he wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pressing his cold nose to my neck.

I giggle and pull away "Coffee?" I ask. He makes an affirmative noise and goes to sit down on the sofa, clearly still groggy from the lack of sleep.

I pull out a second mug as the kettle boils, making us both coffee and bringing it over to where Jack is sitting; I curl up at his side and he wraps one arm around me, the other holding the mug. We sit in silence for a while, drinking the coffee and adjusting to being awake.

"I didn't ask, why are you up so early?" Jack asks, braking the silence.

"Same as you, too cold" I look up at him, flashing him a smile, then looking back at the half empty mug "I was too hot last night so I threw off my covers, someone must've picked them up because they weren't there this morning." Jack chuckles, pulling me a bit closer into his side and rubbing my arm.

Finishing his coffee Jack sets his mug down on the small table in front of us, I follow suit, taking his now free hand in both of mine. I run my fingers over the callouses on his fingertips, built up over years of playing guitar, tracing every line and contour, completely losing myself in the motions. Jack nuzzles his nose into my hair, resting his cheek on my head, watching me, occasionally kissing the top of my head or closing his fingers around my hand.

It's not long before the rest of the guys start filtering into the kitchen, and then the lounge, flopping down on the couches, and when those are full, grabbing some cushions to sit on on the floor. I scoot over so I'm sat over Jack's lap, body on one side, feet on the other, so there's more room for other people on the couch, but there just isn't enough room for everyone to get a place.

It seems to have been unanimously and silently decided that today will be a non-day, with half the guys nursing a hangover from the night before and the other half feeling lazy we set about what movie to put on first. We take a vote and it only barely wins in favour of a new thriller that just came out- I'm not particularly fussed about what we watch but Jack seemed excited for it so I voted what he chose. Rian, Matt, and a couple of the crew guys groan and start making their way back to the bunks, heads far too pounding from last night to be watching it; the rest of us have a bit of a giggle about it, having taken it easy last night, and rearrange on the sofa so now everyone has a spot.

Jack's POV

A few movies in I started to tune out, I think everyone did- movie days are great in theory but I just don't have the attention span for it. I've been idly playing with Alex's hair instead for the last half hour or so, cherishing how he leans back into me when I scratch in just the right places, kinda like a dog I think to myself, letting out a giggle. Alex gives me a puzzled look, I just shake my head and kiss his forehead, looking back up at the TV to see if I can get back into the film, luckily Zach saves me.

"Right guys, this has been great but I can't watch any more films for like, a week" he says getting up from his spot on the couch, joints popping as he stretches. We all groan at the sound but follow suit, stretching out of the positions we've been sat in for the last who-knows-how-many hours.

My stomach rumbles loudly as I remember I haven't eaten anything yet, and neither has Alex, or, I assume, most of the guys "Who wants pizza?" I ask "I'm thinking about ordering some." At the mention of pizza the few remaining guys who hadn't joined us from the bunks came out, and I grab the laptop from the table while we all start deciding what to get.

One ridiculously large order later we all divvy up the respective pizzas and retreat to our own areas of the bus, having well and truly timed out our social timers for the day. Me and Alex settle into my bunk, sat cross legged on either end, heads slightly ducked to fit in, with the open pizza box set in between us.

We eat the first couple slices in silence, much like the coffee this morning, and then Alex starts off on a story he'd completely forgotten about Rian last night. He sets his pizza slice down, fully engrossed in telling the story, scooting over to my side of the bunk to lie down next to me; I pull the box up onto our laps, one arm around him, the other still going to town on the pizza, laughing along as he finishes up telling me about how Rian shot gun three beers in a row because he just couldn't do it right, spilling most of it down himself.

Uncomfortably full from the greasy pizza, I stand up and take the empty box to the kitchen so we can properly lie down in bed, when I get back Alex has ditched the hoodie and gotten under the covers instead. I take mine off too and scoot in next to him, wrapping him up in my arms.

"Wanna listen to some music?" he half-yawns, half-asks, shifting around to get his phone out of his pocket. I reach up to the little shelf in my bunk and grab my earphones, handing them to Alex.

"Anything specific?" I ask as he plugs them in.

"I didn't have anything in mind, do you?" I shake my head, pressing a kiss to his forehead. He hands me one of the earphones as he puts the other one in his ear. We lie back a bit more and get comfy, becoming a tangle of arms and legs while he hits shuffle on a playlist. I can feel the vibrations of him humming along against my chest, I lie my head back and look at the top of the bunk, encompassed in a shell of warm happiness.

I slowly trail my hand up and down his back as I feel him getting more and more relaxed against me, it's 11:00 P.M now, which is normally still relatively early for us, but having been awake since 7:00 A.M it felt much later, and warranted feeling so tired.

"'S okay if I sleep here tonight?" Alex mumbled, in a way that made me think even if I said no he'd already be asleep by the time I answered "Still dunno where my covers are."

I smiled and peppered the top of his head with kisses "Of course 'Lex."

"Night Jack."

I took the phone out of his pocket and paused the music, trying to put it on charge with the hand that wasn't under his head but giving up and placing it on the shelf instead. Kissing his forehead once more for good measure I settled back and shut my eyes "Night Alex."

x | give credit if used

yeah i chose Rian

Just wanted to pop in and remind the entrants in my fic contest that we’ve officially started! Remember that I need your entries posted on the platform of your choice by Saturday, September 10th. If you were unable to enter and want to do a late entrance, please let me know ASAP, but just know that you will have a bit less time than the other contestants. Entrants, I can’t wait to see what you all come up with. I will posting the prizes for each place within the next week! 

@astrophysicist-not-princess

@atlfics

@melljunee

Someone commented on my story and it made me smile :)

If you like all time low (band) fanfics, come check it out!

All Time Low Fanfiction

So I’m trying to recapture my teenage years and I want to start reading and possibly start writing ATL fan fiction again. I used to use AllTimeLowFanfiction.com but there doesn’t seem to be as active with stories anymore, so doesn't anyone know what’s used now?

Chapter 13: Get Along

Chapter Log!

Michelle had shown up at house unexpected, and uninvited later on that same Friday. And somehow, someway convinced me that going to the gathering would be a good thing. Sitting in the passenger seat of her 8-year old Camry. I was still trying to decide if she'd been right or not. KISS 95.9 was currently playing on the radio. Love in This Club by Usher blasting through the speakers. And at just number eight on their top-forty countdown, it had me counting the mile markers on I-83. Just praying each one would be the last we'd pass.

I'd asked Michelle just about a hundred and seven times since she'd shown up at my door where we were going. And each and every time I did, she gave me the same cookie cutter response. Just a small smirk, and a "you'll see" that had my eyes rolling and my brain contemplating just ending it all. But in Heinz sight, if shitty radio play and a sketchy best-friend were the worst things I had going on in my day, I guess I was doing okay. Still, I impatiently tapped my fingers on my tanned knees the entire remainder of the drive. Only stopping when she suddenly slowed down and pulled off the main road and onto an uneven dirt path. One that certainly didn't look like it was meant for any form of recreational use in the past generation or so. "Okay, where on Earth are we actually going?" I asked at the sight of it. Our small bodies bouncing and swinging around in the cab of her car as it jumped and jostled. Thanking God for the second time in my life for inventing the seatbelt. "Lord, is your patients as thin you are!" She joked, rolling her eyes. And I couldn’t help but start to mutter under my breath for a greater power above to give me some patience. Because if I was handed strength in that moment I probably would have just up and punched her. She was the one that dragged me out to the middle of nowhere and wouldn’t tell me where she taking me to probably get wacked and left for dead. But thankfully for both me, and Michelle's arm a second later she somehow managed to round a brushed corner without bottoming out her little gold car. Pulling into a large open field. We rode down the grass and destroyed patches of road, kept in a straight line by sporadic metal posts till we passed a small white structure caving in on itself. Other cars soon came into view. An array of varying vehicles from little ones like Michelle's to large pickups were parked in a semi-circle, people gathered in the middle. And soon I spotted the most bizarre thing just beyond the group. A towering fifty-foot-tall screen stood sky high. Small white panels pealing at places and completely missing in others leaving nothing but holes or exposed plywood. We were at an old drive-in movie theater. My eyes were probably the size of bowling balls by the time she'd parked her car and turned to me, calling my attention back to her. "You good?" She asked simply. And I looked out through her windshield at the group of people wandering around. Unable to make out exact faces. "I'll be right beside you the whole time if you get overwhelmed." I nodded thoughtfully and chewed on my lip. Not daring to make moves to unbuckle myself, even when Michelle did. There were about twelve or so people in the group if my math was correct. And all things considered, there was probably one person I knew for certain, and only two to three others whom I'd just recognize. "Tweedle Dee?" She called again, probably noticing my internal debate. I looked over to see her now up and out of her car, standing in its open door. "Just remember, all these people are your friends, whether you remember them or not." I nodded my head and forced my hands to move. "You're right" I muttered, crawling out of the car. I tried to repeat Dr. Walker's words in my head, telling myself how this would help me remember. But it was kind of hard to once Michelle ran around to me. She hooked her arm in mine and lead us off towards the crowd, rambling the entire time about how excited everyone would be to see me. But I didn’t need her assuring words for long. Because the second we drew close enough to identify, a long-legged, skunk haired kid was running right at us. "KENNERS!" He screeched, straggly arms waving through the air. A trail of dust being kicked up behind his brightly colored Nikes as he stormed towards us, throwing himself at me the second he could. His sternum crashed into my cheek with full force, knocking me back a few steps and clean into a memory. "Allright, everyone! Listen up!" Jack shouted, from behind me. Causing everyone in our small huddle to turn around and see the raven-haired boy by Alex's truck. His long limbs contorted in strange and certainly uncomfortable ways as he swung himself up onto the dropped tailgate and rose to his feet. Bible in his left hand he'd swiped from the glove box, was then used to tap the beer bottle clutched in the other. Once a gift from Alex's grandmother after his confirmation was now just a prop. His feeble attempts to make any sound fell short. But still, everyone around who hadn't already been watching on turned to see what the commotion was. The air was warm as it swirled around us, ice cold Coronas and Busch Light cans were in everyone's hands as we gathered in the center of our favorite spot in town. The old abandoned Timonium Drive In. It was the core of the summer, and the usually scorching sun just begun to set, dipping slightly behind the large screen which somehow still stood. But Alex's skin was still speckled with sweat as he threw a bare arm around my shoulders. Warm sun-tanned skin sticking to my own. I knew just as well as the boy beside me that the fleeting light wouldn’t stop that twenty-person party from raging on into the night. And as the golden hour shined down on Jack where he towered above us, it was as good of an assumption as any. "Tuesday, July 15th 2005 will be a day for us all to remember!" He shouted, beginning to walk back and forth across the rusted bed. "A day greatness was released from the womb of the greatest band to ever come from the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland and out into the world!" "Pretty sure were the only ones in the area!" Rian hollered from behind. His arm slung causally around Kara's waist. "Shut up, I'm giving a speech you, turd licker!" Jack laughed, "Today, we as a band, released our first ever full-length album, The Party Scene!" And on that note, everyone started to cheer. Hoots were hollered and beers were sipped but Jack wasn’t quite done there. He kept on talking, pacing and swinging his drink as though he here Charlie Champlin. And our small group of friends were watching his movie. "You don't get much for certain in this life, and we sure as Hell didn't think this little garage band would make it this far, that’s for damn sure!" He drunkenly rambled. "But as I stand here, managing to convince you all somehow that what I'm about to say may have some hidden wisdom or be sweet and meaningful to hold onto and laugh about in years to come. I'll tell you right now, you're dead-fucking-wrong." "Oh, then just get on with it!" Another friend yelled. "Well," Jack popped, coming to a stop and turning to face us all. "I would, but to be honest I forgot what I had to say the second, I climbed up onto this truck. So, I'll just say what mamma Merrick always has. All you're really given is the sunshine and your name!" "My mom doesn’t say that?" Zack chimed in, and not a second later the most miraculous thing I'd ever seen started to happened. As though mother nature was toying with Jack's mention of the sunshine pouring over us all. Not a second more passed before small drops of water began to fall from the sky. And I couldn't even begin to describe just how magical the chorus of our laughter sounded in that moment of time. "Look what you've done now, you fuck!" Rico manically yelled as one drop became two, and then three. And before we knew it large rain drops began to fall all around us from the still sunlit sky. In a matter of seconds, the mere drizzle was a full-blown downpour and people began to scatter. I was ripped from the memory almost as quickly as I'd been knocked into it. Looking up once I could to see Alex holding Jack by the shoulder and rolling his eyes. "You're going to crush her to death if you squeeze her like that!" "Well, I'm not going to apologize for it!" He laughed, turning to me and letting his black and bleached hair fall into his eyes. "I've missed you Kenn, like the dessert misses the rain!" His small, clueless remark made me laugh a little too hard at its relation to my memory. But still, my shoulders instantly rolled back. Now free from his death-like grip and much more relaxed than they'd been just moments before in the car. "I've missed you too, you crazy." I smiled. Not knowing exactly what I'd been missing, but the words felt right as they rolled off my tongue. He smiled at me, big brown eyes glistening in the fading sunlight. I could practically see the sporadic thoughts bouncing through his skull as he tossed an arm around my shoulder and started to walk. "Well how 'bout we say hi to everyone else who's been missing you almost as much as I have." I could hear Alex and Michelle's steps as they followed close behind. Talking softly to one another as Jack lead me by my neck towards the crowd. A few slowly turned around one by one to our direction. But not everyone had seemed to notice us approach, most just carried on with their loud conversations over the even louder music flowing from a Jeep. But one boy seemed to pick up on my presence instantly, a smile spreading across his face I could see clearly from even a foot away how bright and perfect his teeth were. He was a broader man, his head was buzzed, and subtle tuffs of scruff lined his jaw. He didn't look like anyone I'd pictured before, but for some reason my brain drew a connection I didn't even know was there upon seeing that smile of his. "Hey Rian," I waved. His already large smile growing even bigger as he managed to pull me out from under Jacks arm. Tugging me instantly into a brief, firm hug. "How are you?" "I'm good!" He nodded and let go. His smile still so wide I was beginning to think he would start to catch flies soon enough. "How are you, how have you been doing?" "I mean, I've certainly been better." I shrugged, trying to laugh it off like I'd been getting in the habit of doing. He just gave me a knowing nod. "I'm sure, but hey, Alex has been telling us you've been coming along pretty good!" He said motioning to the singer who'd stepped up beside Jack. Already blushing profusely by the time I'd looked over. "Is that true?" "It is..." I dragged. Watching for a second with a smile as Alex kept his hidden before I looked to my other side at Michelle. The shorter brunette shooting me a grin. "I didn't know Alex talked about me so much." "No more than he used to!" Rian laughed, receiving a swift smack to the arm by his shaggy-headed friend. "Alright, well that's enough of a re-introduction to Rian, I think!" Alex cut in right after, deciding that conversation was dead and buried. Being quick to replace Jack's place at my side as he grabbed my hand and hauled me off to the others. Being dragged around that makeshift party and being re-introduced to person after person in my life was a lot of things. For starters, it was outright just a lot. A lot to take in, a lot to digest, a lot of fresh names in the bank, a lot of faces I just straight up didn’t recognize, and a lot that I vaguely did but had no idea of why. It was confusing at times, but fun at others. For instance, when I was put in front of a boy with a rather interesting last name, I remembered him. Not much, but now at least I know Alex Grieco. And that I was assigned to be his guide when he came into Dulaney High just one year after the rest of us. And how we'd laughed the entire time at the fact that even I still didn't know how to get around that damned high school. And the entire time I had someone with me by my side walking me through it all. Either Alex, sipping a beer and sharing a story of something ridiculous and borderline unbelievable I’d done with someone. Or with Michelle, which I almost preferred, not that Alex wasn’t helpful. But purely because anytime someone that didn’t even begin to ring a bell would walk away, she'd turn to me and whisper a juicy bit of gossip on how I'd felt about them back in high school. All of which had the two of us laughing and snickering like immature school girls again. Eventually we'd all found ourselves gathered around Alex's truck. Zack was sat on top the truck's cab. Someone who I'd recognized almost instantly despite his drastic change in appearance from the dark and stormy kid I’d envisioned. I was perched on the tailgate, legs swinging over the edge. Wedged between Michelle and Alex while all the others wereeither sat in collapsible chairs or standing around. Each and every one having a story to share of a time they'd spent with me they just couldn't wait to get out. "And I just stood there, completely shocked," One kid Timmy, a rather robust individual told. "You just slapped the dude clean across the face, no warning or nothing!" "There is absolutely no way I did that!" I laughed along with everyone else. Leaning over and hiding my head in Michelle's long hair once Timmy was done telling his story of me. Large hands up in the air the entire time he explained it. "Oh, but you did, my little fire-cracker!" He pointed at me, exposing my bright red face to the whole group in the process. "Yeah that's a good one," Zack laughed from behind me, hopping down and making the truck jolt just a bit. "But not quite as good as the time we went to Dick's Last Resort!" "Oh, my gosh I almost forgot about that!" Michelle laughed, turning around to look up at Zack as he placed a hand on my totally confused shoulder. Everyone around me beginning to chuckle and nod. Each and every one seeming to recall the moment with ease. I on the other hand was having a much more difficult time. "Why, what happened at Dick's Last Resort?" "Well you know how the whole point of Dick's is that you go, and get those funny paper hats and the waiters basically just pick fun at and mock you the entire time?" Michelle excitedly asked, staring cheerily into my lost eyes. "I mean, kind of, I guess." I shrugged, trying to recall. Still not really seeing how this could lead to a memorable story. Unless my friends really thought a waiter laughing at me was just that hysterical. Which they just might of, honestly. "Well we all went there to celebrate something-" "My birthday!" "Yes," Zack sighed at Michelle's interruption. "And were just downright miserable the whole time! Our waiter was basically bullying you the entire meal. Calling you Scrooge, saying you could drive a preacher to drink with an attitude like yours all this crazy shit!" "Eventually you basically snapped!" Jack chimed in with a chortle. "What did I do?" I asked, genuinely a little worried to hear their responses. But I of course was only immediately answered with a wide variation of laugher. "You made some absurd remark about being able to charm the dew off a honeysuckle or something bizarre like that and went on this hilarious little rant about how cheery of a person you were!" Zack started again, "But then you made the big ole mistake of spewing out that you used to be a cheerleader!" "I was a cheerleader?" I asked, not believing it for a second as I turned to the grinning boy. Scrunching my nose up at his smile. "Not that we knew of!" He chuckled, shrugging a bit. "You cheered for a little later on in high school and hated it they were so bad, but I guess in Boston you were really good at it." "Yeah, you were smoking at the ears practically when our waiter only started to pick on you more, saying that you probably couldn’t get your scrawny legs of the ground!" Michelle laughed, borderline crying she was giggling so hard. "Hey, this is my story for Kenn!" Zack snipped, smacking her lightly on the top of her head. "But yeah, like she said, you were pissed as all Hell, and you made a bet with the guy that if you got up on their stage right then and there and did a back flip that he couldn't say one more word to you the rest of the night!" "I didn’t know I could do a back flip!" I chocked, looking wide-eyed at my boney knees swinging over the tailgate's edge. "Yeah, neither did we!" The boy continued to laugh. "We all thought for sure you were about to eat hardwood when you got up on the platform, but crazily enough you landed it! Still probably the coolest thing I've seen you do." "We did get banned for a year though because of it..." Rian muttered. And everyone started to laugh again. Including me this time. "I don't know, Zack..." Jack sang, taking his turn as he sloshed his beer around in its can. "I think the concerning number of drunk backflips she's done in Gaskarth's back yard would have that story beat!" "I did not do back flips drunk!" I laughed, shaking my head in utter disbelief. "Oh, sweet pea," Michelle sighed, "You've done so many, so far from sober we lost count after fifteen or so." An eruption of laughter exploded through the friend group after that. And I laughed along ever so slightly and I fell, red-faced into Alex's side. "I didn't realize how crazy I was growing up..." I chuckled. So soft probably only the singer had heard. He just sighed and wrapped his arm around my back. Pulling my blushing form closer into him. "It's one of the many, many things we all love about you. Kennedy Paige."