One Shots

Rae

My crystals clinked against each other as I moved under the hot sun, my camera in hand. It was something ridiculous like forty five degrees here, in Alice Springs. I had just gotten back from a tour of Uluru and was getting some quick shots of the surrounding area before I got on a plane back to Adelaide.

My blonde hair flicked around my face as the desert wind picked up, blowing hot air in my face. I grabebd my water bottle and took a deep swig as I started walking back to the bus that we - the travel group - were in, my long gypsy-style skirt twisting uncomfortably around my legs. I grabbed the fabric in one hand and lifted it up, letting the air try and cool my body. I got on the bus and sat down in my seat, grabbing my water bottle once again and taking a long drink. I loved the heat, but even forty-five degree heat waves got to me after a week.

'Hey, nice tattoos.' One of the other passengers said, gesturing to my legs. If I wasn't already red from the heat, the blush would have been very noticeable on my face as I pulled down my skirt.

'Thanks.' I said shortly, looking into his eyes. They were chocolate brown, and I noticed his own tattoos, trailing over his body. His neck was mostly taken up by an owl, and other miscellaneous tattoos decorated his arms and chest. He was wearing a singlet to try and keep cool.

'I'm Tony,' he said with a shy smile, offering me his hand. It was also inked. I found myself falling, even though he had only said five words to me. Wait, make that a few more. His mouth was moving some more.

'I think this is the part where you tell me your name and shake my hand.'

'Oh, sorry,' I snapped out of my reverie, shaking his hand, 'Rae.' I couldn't place his accent, he definitely wasn't from Australia.

'You're not from here, are you?' I asked. He shook his head.

'America, actually. Are you from Uluru?' I laughed as his eyebrows knitted together.

'Uluru is the big rock we just went to. And no, I'm from Adelaide.'

'I've been there a few times. It's nice.' Tony slid into the seat next to me.

'What did you go there for?'

'Oh, I play in a band and I've done some tours across Australia.'

'Would I know your band?' It was Tony's turn to laugh now.

'I doubt it.'

'Shoot.'

'Pierce the Veil.' I shook my head.

'Nope, no clue, sorry.' Tony shrugged, another smile crossing his face.

'That's okay, it's nice talking to people who don't know me. I mean...' Tony trailed off, looking away.

'I know what you mean.'

'What do you do for a living?'

We continued to discuss things as we pulled up to the airport. We gathered our luggage off the bus, taking it the baggage department and Tony got his wrapped.

'Back to America?' He nodded.

'It was nice meeting you,' he said, smiling.

'You too.' I watched him walk off to the plane, a sinking feeling in my stomach. I was probably never going to see him again.

- - -

I looked up at my friend, my eyes shining. She held up the tickets, wiggling her eyebrows.

'Yes!' I shouted, throwing my arms around her thin body. I released her and she rolled her eyes.

'Anything for you to meet your "true love".' She teased. 'Now, go get ready.'

'Thank you!' I yelled, changing out of my flop-around-home skirt and into jeans and a plain tee shirt. I was back in Adelaide, and it had been almost a year since that chance meeting. I had been waiting ages to get tickets to one of his shows, but the only one that had come up had sold out in a few hours. I had been working and was unable to buy tickets, and didn't particularly feel like paying two hundred dollars just to meet him. I had listened to some of his music, and while it wasn't my taste, he was.

My friend drove to the venue, passing me my VIP ticket pass on a lanyard. I hung it around my neck and we were swiftly ushered in. My friend held my hand as I looked around; butterflies were starting in my stomach and I swallowed my heart, forcing it back in its place in my chest rather than my throat.

'There he is.' My friend whispered, spinning me so that I could see him. We were standing with a few of their fans, some of which were crying. A few of the other lucky fans were having conversations with the other band members, but I only had eyes for Tony. He scanned over the crowd, not looking for anyone in particular, more like just appreciating everyone who was there. His eyes fell on my friend first, and I ducked behind her, hiding. Tony didn't see me and looked away, back at a few people who had walked over to him. My friend huffed and dragged me over, calling,

'Tony! Oi!'

He looked up, trying to find her.

'Oi!' She waved an arm in the air and he seemed puzzled.

'Stop it.'

'No way, you're meeting him now.'

She shoved me forwards and I stumbled. I turned around and shot her a glare, and she waved cheekily.

'Rae?' My head snapped back to Tony.

'Y-Yeah?'

Tony smiled at me once again.

'You expanded on your tattoos,' he observed, eyes darting to my arms.

'Uh, yeah.' I said. 'Have you missed Australia?'

'Only for one reason.' Tony moved a bit closer, and I swear, I fell even harder for him as he shot me a shy look. We were now a few centimeters apart, and he leaned down and kissed me gently.

'And the reason's you.'

Notes

For WhiskeyKitty on piercetheveilfanfiction.net

Title cred: Caraphernelia - PIerce the Veil