A Friday Night Like This

Vic

Those simple words left his mouth and my heart swelled. I couldn't believe it. I hesitantly moved closer to him, tilting my head up. I locked eyes with his, waiting for his approval. He moved his head down and brushed my lips. I took this as I was allowed to kiss him, and threw my arms around his neck, pulling him down. He eagerly responded, our lips colliding in a fireworks show stunning enough to stops hearts on New Years' Eve. He pulled back and gave me a half smile. His breathing was rapid and he was sucking in a huge lungful of air.

'Maybe we should take things a bit slower, okay?'

I nodded. Anything for him. I stepped back and took his hand.

'How about a walk before we leave?' I suggested, leading him out of the bus.

'That sounds lovely.' I heard the smile in his voice as we walked along a dirt path.

Zach

I watched Vic and Kellin leave Sleeping with Sirens' bus. I smiled. Rian owed me fifty bucks now. I followed them as they started walking down an old, worn dirt path. It snaked around trees and led to a small trickling creek. I lifted my camera and took a few shots as they neared the concealed water source. I snapped a picture as Kellin pulled Vic into him and gave him a kiss on the forehead as Vic laughed, the light dappled across their lean bodies as it fell through the sparse leaf cover.

They reached the creek and sat by the waters edge, taking off their socks and shoes and dipping their toes into the water. Kellin decided to roll up his jeans a little and walked into the middle of the creek. It only came up mid-calf. Vic joined him and squeaked when a stray fish brushed his foot.

I continued snapping away, my camera roll filling up with the romance-infused shots. I walked back the way I came, ready to load the pictures onto my laptop and edit them. Maybe add in a few different effects, play with the contrast, brightness and hue. I smiled. This was going to tide me over until we got to the next venue.

I walked onto my bus and Alex was playing his guitar. He was concentrating hard, staring at the gorgeous instrument restong on his lap. his eyebrows were furrowed and he was mouthing the chords as he played. I finally picked up the tune - it was Jasey Rae. He was going through an acoustic set he was playing at the local Hot Topic tomorrow. Jack was in his bunk, idly flipping through a magazine. Rian was no where to be found. I climbed into my own bunk and started up my laptop. I plugged in my camera and created a new folder labelled "Kellin and Vic - Phoenix, Arizona". I uploaded the photos and deleted them off the camera, therefore opening up space to take new ones. I walked back out to the lounge where Alex had moved onto Let It Roll.

'Taking pictures?' He asked, eyeing the familiar piece of equipment in my hands.

'Yeah.' I answered.

'Mind if I come with?' Alex liked walking around with me, watching me take photos. He didn't talk, which I appreciated. He just seemed to want some company, yet still be left to his thoughts. I respected that and the few words that did pass between us was when Alex pointed out something to photograph or I asked his opinion. I shrugged in response to his question.

'I found a cool creek about a kilometer away. It's secluded and really calming. I was thinking of taking a few pics there. Not really walking around.' Alex just stood up.

'That's cool. I can play my guitar.'

We set off, and I saw Kellin and Vic emerge from the trees. Vic was soaked to the bone, and Kellin was laughing at him. I lifted my camera and hit the shutter. Alex pointed to the trees.

'There?'

'Yeah. Do you mind if I take a few photos of you?'

'Nah, go ahead. Just try to get my good side.' Alex laughed and strummed his guitar, the hollow sound filling the trees around us. He found a fairly flat rock to sit on and rested his guitar on his lap and started playing Let It Roll again. I snapped a photo and admired it for a while.

In it, Alex was half-hunched over his guitar, a look of intense concentration over his features. His hair was stuffed under a beanie and there was a multitude of trees behind him, giving off a variety of different shades. There was also the light contrast. The last note of Let It Roll hung in the empty air.

'You okay there, Zach? You've only taken one picture.' My eyes met his and I nodded slowly.

'I'll show you when we get on the bus.'

Kellin

I knew he was there. I wasn't stupid. And I wasn't putting on an act either. I heard Zach click away at his camera, and then leave once we got into the water. Vic enveloped me in a hug and we swayed from side to side.

'Zach was here.' I mumbled against his chest. He was wearing one of his trademark button down shirts. I moved the fabric so that the tip of my nose rested lightly on his skin.

'Was he?' Vic said, his head laying on mine. I laughed softly, extra air being blown out my nose as I did so, causing Vic to squirm.

'That tickles.' He complained, twisting away from my body.

'Really?' I asked, an idea popping into my head. I wound my arms closer around him so that my fingers rested on his sides. I began moving them lightly, and I felt goosebumps appear on his skin.

'Don't do that, Kells.' Vic said, stepping backwards out of my hold. I reached my hand out and Vic studied it warily. I cupped his face, but his eyes didn't waver from their place locked on mine. I traced the side of his neck as I trailed my hand down his body, causing more goosebumps to appear in my wake. Vic's hand rose up and trapped mine.

'Don't do that!' He repeated, shifting all of his weight to one side. Perfect.

'Sorry,' I said. I tried pulling my hand back and he released it.

'Not sorry!' I yelled, lunging forward tickling his stomach. The force of my crash with him and need to get away from the tickling made Vic fall with a splash into the water. He sat up, blinking and shaking his hair like a wet dog.

'What was that for?' He asked, looking up at me. I waded out of the water and dried my feet on a patch of grass.

'Just cause.' I replied, smirking.

'C'mon. I'm hungry.' I started tramping through the bushes and grasses to find the path while Vic scrambled out of the water, grabbing his own shoes as he ran past them.

'Since you dumped me in the water,' Vic started.

'Yes?' I asked, halfway turning around only to see a large object hurtling towards me,

'You can carry me until my feet are dry.' Vic finished after he had scrambled into position on my back. I started blowing air onto his feet to dry them.

'No! Not like that!' Vic yelped, sliding off.

I shrugged. 'That's what happens.'

Notes

Title cred: Let Love Bleed Red - Sleeping with Sirens

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