Don't Make This Easy

“Rise and shine Jacie Rae!” Jaime yelled. I groaned and covered my head with my arms.

“No.” I mumbled.

“Alright, then you leave me with no other choice.” He said. Suddenly an air horn went off and I jumped up, covering my ears.

“What the fuck Jaime!” I screamed, grabbing the air horn out of his hands and throwing it to the opposite end of the bus.

“Get up, it's already quarter past four, the set starts in fifteen minute.” He said.

“You guys let me sleep all day?” I asked. Jaime laughed and shook his head.

“Uh, we tried waking you up. You nailed Vic in the forehead with your phone so we just decided to let you be.” He said. “Go get ready, we’ll meet you at the stage. Your camera stuff is already over there.”

With that said he left. I went in the bathroom and jumped in the shower quickly, the full effects of my hangover hitting me as soon as I stepped into the water. I washed up and got out, then wrapped my towel around my chest and went to my bunk to grab some clothes. I got dressed quickly and then went back in the bathroom to brush out my hair.

I cringed when I saw my reflection. I looked awful. I hard dark purple circles under my eyes and bags to go with them, showing just how tired and hungover I was. I said fuck it and didn't bother trying to cover it. Sunglasses would have to do since makeup would just melt off. I brushed my hair out, cringing at every knot I hit that pulled my hair and intensified my headache, and threw it into a loose ponytail.

I left the bathroom and headed to the front lounge. I picked my phone up off the ground across from the couch and shoved it in my back pocket, then grabbed my sunglasses off the table and put them on. I stood up on the couch and searched the cabinet for ibuprofen and pedialyte, and sighed in relief when I found them. I washing the pills down with the pedialyte, and then headed off the bus, bringing the bottle with me.

When I got to the stage there were only three minutes left and the guys were getting themselves pumped up for the show. I went right over to my camera bag and got everything ready as quickly as possible.

“You look worse for wear.” Mike laughed when he saw me. I just gave him a thumbs up and took a couple gulps of my drink.

“Well someone is hungover.” Vic said, trying not to laugh. I just nodded.

“You don't even know.” I said. “What did we even do last night?” I asked.

“You don't remember?” Tony laughed. I shook my head. I couldn't remember a thing. Not a single god damn thing.

“I remember having dinner with the guys and then nothing.” I told him.

“We’ll explain everything later.” Mike said, patting me on the back. “For now, try not to die during the set.”

The guys did their usual pre show chant, while they did that I downed the rest of my pedialyte, then they took to the stage.

After the set the guys didn't have anything left to do except an interview in a little while, so we all headed back to the bus. When we got there I dropped face first onto the couch. I felt horrible.

“You alright there Jacie?” Vic laughed. I shook my head.

“No.” I whined as I turned my head and glared at him. “You're basically my big brother, aren't you supposed to make sure that I don't get so fucked up that I can't remember anything?”

“He was more fucked up that you were.” Jaime laughed. “We got him baked. All brotherly responsibilities were gone.”

“You got high and I don't even remember it?!” I dropped my head back down on the couch dramatically. “What's the point in getting drunk if I don't remember the best parts.”

“Oh that wasn't even the best part.” Mike laughed. I sat up and moved my sunglasses to the top of my head.

“Alright, give me the play by play.” I said. “It's storytime.”

“Well,” Jaime started. “I was forced to do the Macarena, and then proceeded to do it, willingly might I add, multiple times after.”

“Rian pantsed some dude and almost got his ass kicked.” Tony said.

“I got higher than the god damn clouds, as you were already told.” Vic laughed.

“Jack ran around on Sleeping With Sirens bus butt ass naked.” Mike told me.

“Oh I bet Kellin enjoyed that.” I laughed.

“Oh yeah, he loved it.” Vic laughed. “We also played never have I ever, which is probably why you can't remember anything because, well, you've done basically everything.”

“Yeah, that'll do it.” I said. I looked at the guys and they were all looking between each other, like they had something else to say but none of them wanted to say it.

“Alright, what aren't you guys telling me?” I asked. “What the fuck did I do?”

“Oh, look at the time, we have an interview to go to.” Jaime said, checking his watch and jumping off the couch. “Let's go guys.” The other three followed Jaime and they all ran off the bus.

“Weirdos!” I yelled after them.

I laid back down on the couch for a little while, my arm resting over my eyes to block out the light in hopes that I could fall asleep. I quickly gave up all hope for going back to sleep and decided to hunt down Jenna, hoping that she could tell me what I had done last night the the boys didn't want to tell me. After walking around for about a half an hour I finally found her.

“Wow, you're actually alive?” She laughed when she saw me.

“You wouldn't be saying that if I weren't wearing sunglasses.” I said. “I look like a fucking zombie.”

“Oh it can't be that bad.” She said. I lifted my sunglasses and bit and she laughed loudly. “I stand corrected. You're right. You are a zombie.”

“Told you.” I laughed. “So, tell me.” I said, linking my arm with hers as we walked around the venue. “What the hell did I do last night, and why will the guys not tell me?”

“Wait, you don't remember?” She asked. I shook my head.

“Nope, don't even remember Vic getting baked or Jack running around naked on the Sleeping With Sirens bus.” I told her. “The guys just gave me a general rundown of what happened but when I asked what I did they booked ass and headed to their interview early.” Jenna just laughed and shook her head.

“Well, I'll put it this way.” She said. “Your dare was to kiss the person to your left, which was Alex.”

“No. Do not fucking tell me that I actually did that.” I said, stopping dead in my tracks.

“Check Instagram, Mike posted a picture of the outcome.” She laughed.

I quickly pulled out my phone and opened Instagram, then we to the picture that Mike had tagged me in late last night. My jaw dropped when I saw it. I sure as hell didn't kiss Alex. Not even close. Instead, Mike had snapped a picture of Tony and I kissing, Alex next to us looking rather pissed off. I read the caption and mentally slapped myself.

Ptvmike: Dare of the night. Kiss the person to your left. That's the wrong left @jacelynnraemerrick

“Okay, and no one thought to slap me or not let me do that why?” I asked.

“We had no idea you were going to do that.” She laughed. “Jack read your dare and you just totally froze, I honestly thought you were going to get up and run, then the next thing I know you just grabbed Tony by the front of his shirt and kissed him.”

“Well I'm glad you find this hilarious.” I said as I locked my phone and shoved it back in my pocket.

“It is though.” She said, trying to calm her laughter. “You should have seen your face when Jack read you your dare, you looked like a deer caught in headlights. I really thought you were just gonna get up and run out here.”

“Oh god no, do you know the penalty for that?” I asked. “No way in hell was I stripping down to my underwear.”

“Oh Jack would have loved that.” She laughed.

“Which is exactly why it couldn't happen.” I laughed. “This is seriously a fucking mess though.”

“Just pretend it never happened, it's not that big a deal.” She said with a shrug. “I mean it shouldn't be too hard, as far as anyone knows, you don't even remember it.”

“Yeah well everyone else seems to remember it, and no one is going to let me live it down.” I sighed. “I should have just kissed Alex. I avoid him like the plague anyways.”

“Yeah you can't really do that with Tony, he'll know something's up, and you share a bus with him. It's practically impossible.” She said. I nodded as we walked back toward the bus.

“That's true, but I can always just hangout with you until things settle down a bit.” I said.

“Well if you're waiting for things to settle down before you see him, you might want to leave, they're coming over here.” She laughed.

I looked over my shoulder and saw that she was right. I grabbed my skateboard out of the storage compartment quickly and dropped it on the ground.

“Try to keep up.” I said as pushed off the ground.

Jenna laughed at me and then started running to keep up with me. We headed over to her bus so she could grab her long board and then we went over to the empty part of the parking lot.

We rode around for awhile, enjoying to free time and the breeze that cooled us off as we rode. After a little we dropped our boards off at the buses and went to walk around for a while. I really didn't feel like going back to the bus until I absolutely had to, despite my hangover screaming at me to go back to sleep.

Around eight I finally gave in and headed back to the bus. I said goodnight to Jenna and then headed inside. The second I set foot inside Mike threw his arm around my shoulders and handed me a bottle of whiskey that was three quarters full.

“Perfect timing, it's drinking time!” He cheered. I cringed a bit, the thought of drinking and the smell of whiskey on his breath were not sitting well with me.

“Yeah I'm not to sure about that” I said, trying to hand the bottle back to him, but he pushed it away.

“Nope, drink up. Best way to cure a hangover is to get drunk.” He said as he pulled me over to the crowded couch, forcing me to squeeze in between him and Jaime.

“You're not gonna let me say no to this are you?” I laughed. He just grinned and shook his head.

“Not a chance.” He said.

I shrugged and uncapped to bottle and put it to my lips. I took five big gulps and then lowered the bottle.

“Happy now?” I laughed. Mike shook his head.

“I'm not gonna be happy until you're on our level. So drink faster.” He said.

“You got some catching up to do, we've been drinking for an hour now.” Jaime laughed.

“Alright, well here goes the rest of the bottle.” I said.

“You're gonna chug the rest of it?” Mike asked, clearly excited. I laughed and nodded. Mike's immediately jumped up off the couch and pulled out his phone, pointing it at me. Of course he wanted to get this on video.

“Get me a straw.” I told him.

He gave me a funny look but grabbed one from the cabinet and handed it to me. I put it in the bottle and bent to top of it.

“Ready?” I asked. Mike grinned and nodded.

“Yo, she pounding the rest of the bottle!” Jaime announced, getting everyone's attention.

“Here goes nothing.” I laughed.

I put the bottle to my lips, holding the straw in place on the side of the bottle, then tipped my head back. The whiskey poured down my throat quickly, burning the whole way. After about six second I slammed the now empty bottle down on the table and raised my hands over my head.

“And that is how you chug a bottle of whiskey.” I said proudly.

“Yes!” I heard Jack’s voice yell. “Crazy Rae is back!”

Next thing I knew Jack had jumped onto the couch, put me in a headlock and was messing up my hair.

“Jack, get off of me.” I laughed as I pushed his arm off of me and pulled my hair out of the ponytail it was in.

“Yes! Take that hair down!” Jack yelled in my ear. I silently thanked god that my hangover was virtually gone.

“If you're getting crazy, does that mean you'll get baked with me?” Mike asked. I laughed and nodded. “Fuck yeah!”

“Just give me a bit, I don't think I can stand right now.” I laughed. All that whiskey was going straight to my head, and I knew it would get worse the second I stood up.

Mike agreed to wait, and we all sat around for a little while, singing along to the music that was playing and passing around a bottle that had a go pro on it. After about twenty minutes I said fuck it and went outside with Mike to smoke a joint. After that we went back inside and I sat down on the couch between Jack and Tony.

“On a scale of one to ten, how fucked up are you?” Jack asked. I leaned back on the couch and thought for a second and then started laughing.

“A hundred.” I, said, laughing uncontrollably. “I can't feel my face.”

“Alright good. Your party foul from last night transfers over.” He said. “Get stripping!”

I just shrugged and didn't fight it. Jack would never leave me alone if I didn't do it so I just pulled my shirt off and threw it at Jack’s face.

“Oh my god I didn't think that would work!” He screamed as he jumped off the couch, spinning my shirt in the air above his head.

“It only worked because I'm not gonna have you following me around for the rest of tour hoping to see my tits.” I laughed.

“You're goddamn right I would.” He said as Vic came up to the front of the bus. He initially just looked right past me but did a double take and raised an eyebrow at me when he realized I was sitting there with just a bra and shorts on.

“Uh, why are you shirtless?” He asked

“Party foul transfer.” Tony said simply.

“How fucked up are you to have actually agreed to that?” He laughed.

“Very.” I laughed.

“She pounded three quarters of a bottle of whiskey, had some of the bottle that was being passed around and then smoked a whole joint to herself.” Mike said, sounding very proud of me.

“And she's only been here for a half an hour.” Jaime added. Vic just laughed and shook his head at me.

“You're gonna die tonight.” He said. I smiled and nodded.

“Probably.”

“I say we make her DD.” Rian said. My eyes went wide and I shook my head.

“Don't do this to me Ri.” I said. He just laughed at me.

“I'm assuming DD doesn't mean designated driver since she's already ridiculously fucked up. So someone explain it to me.” Jaime said.

“Any time anyone is drinking, she has to drink.” Rian explained. “So if anyone is doing a shot, opening a new beer, or whatever they have to call her over and she has to do it it. Anyone doesn't finish their drink she has to finish it.”

“And she only gets to stop when she's either passed out, dead, or bitches out, which results in severe punishment.” Jack said.

“Dude, I will probably probably die if you make me do this.” I laughed.

“Well you better pace yourself, because it's happening.” Rian said. I whined and leaned back on the couch.

“Fine, but someone's gotta go get Jenna, I promised her she would see this.” I said.

“On it!” Mike said and ran off the bus.

When Mike came back with Jenna I was in the middle of shotgunning a beer with Zack, my hand on Vic's shoulder for support.

“So, I hear you're trashed already.” Jenna laughed as she came over to me. I put the empty beer can down and hugged her.

“Dude, you have no idea.” I laughed. “Honestly I can't even see straight right now.”

“Oh good lord, what did you guys do to her?” She laughed.

“Jaime told her she had to get on our level.” Tony told her.

“Which ended with her pounding three fourths of a bottle of whiskey in six seconds.” Vic added.

“And then she smoked with me and now, she's DD.”

“Alright, and can someone explain her lack of a shirt?” She asked.

“Jack transferred my party foul from last night over to tonight.” I explained. “He really just wanted to see my tits but I think he's too much of a bitch to admit it.”

“Hey, I'm not a bitch!” Jack yelled from somewhere on the bus.

“Prove it!” I yelled back to him.

“Well, I have a feeling tonight is going to be interesting, so I'll stick around if you all don't mind.” Jenna said as she grabbed the bottle of tequila that was on the table and poured a few shots.

“Here's to another night I won't remember.” I laughed as I raised my shot glass. Jenna did the same and we both took our shots at the same time.

At some point we ended up playing another game of truth or dare. When it got to my turn on the second round I chose a dare and Mike pulled out double a wild card, which meant not only did someone got to pick what I did, but I had two dares that I had to complete, which I was not looking forward to because I had no option to bitch out tonight.

“Hmmm. What are we gonna make you do?” Mike said thoughtfully, looking to Jack for suggestions.

“Let's start with you have to redo last night's dare, properly. We’ll start it off easy.” Jack said.

“And that was?” I asked, making sure that everyone still thought I didn't remember last night.

“You know what your dare was, shut up.” Jack said waving me off.

“Dude, she really doesn't.” Jaime laughed. “She totally blacked out last night.” Jack just stared at me and started laughing.

“Oh god, you really don't party like you used to.” He laughed. “Alright, hang on, Jace, stay where you are, everyone sit how they were last night.”

I listened to Jack and didn't move from the couch, while everyone else rearranged themselves so they were sitting in the same order as last night. I silently cursed Jack as Alex sat down on my left and Tony sat to my right. Why Jack was so adamant about me kissing Alex, I didn't know, but it was kind of getting on my nerves.

“Alright, now, your dare from last night, since apparently you are a massive lightweight now and don't remember shit,” Jack said. “Was to kiss the person on your left, for one minute.”

“Can I at least have my shirt back for this?” I asked. Jack sighed but tossed my shirt to me. I put it on quickly and then just sat there.

“The dare is in effect now. You bitch out, I'm going to think of the worst thing possible for you to do.” Jack warned.

I sighed but leaned over and kissed Alex. He kissed me back immediately, almost desperately. This was without a doubt going to be the longest minute of my life and I was hating every second of it. It wasn't that Alex was a bad kisser, because he wasn't. It was the fact that he was my ex. He was the last person on this entire bus that I wanted to kiss. Hell, I would willingly show Jack my tits, no bra or anything, before I ever willingly kissed him again. Just feeling his lips on mine, the taste of his stupid spearmint gum, his hand under the back of my shirt on my bare skin, it made me uncomfortable.

When the minute was up I backed away from him, ran off the bus and threw up the second my feet hit the pavement. I stood there for a minute, bent over with my hands resting on my knees trying to catch my breath.

“Shit, she threw up!” I heard Mike say. I could tell he was trying not to laugh but was having a hard time containing it. A minute later Jenna came out and handed me a bottle of water.

“Want me to take over as DD for you?” She asked. I nodded as I took a sip of the water, swished it around in my mouth and spit it back out. She rubbed my back for a second in a comforting manner and then went back on the bus.

I moved and sat down on the ground, leaning my back against the wheel of the bus. I took a couple more sips of water and spit them out, trying to get the taste of vomit and Alex’s spearmint gum out of my mouth.

“Jacie Rae!” Jack yelled. “You still have one more dare!”

“Dude, I think she's done for. Jenna is taking over for her.” I heard Tony say.

A minute later I heard someone walk off the bus and then Tony’s voice again.

“Kissing him was really so bad that you got sick?” He laughed as he sat down next to me.

I nodded as I took another sip of water and spit it back out. I no longer tasted vomit, but I could still taste spearmint. I hate spearmint. And I hate it more now that it's reminding me that I just kissed Alex, for the first time in five years, for a solid minute.

“I think it was his gum that did it.” I said as I leaned my head against the tire. “I fucking hate spearmint.”

“I know you do.” He laughed. “You won't let anyone near you after they've had it.”

“It's fucking gross, either chew gum that sweet, or minty. You don't fucking combine the two.” I said, cringing as the taste resurfaced in my mouth. I took another sip of my water, swished it around, and spit it out.

“You want some regular gum?” He asked. I nodded quickly, making him laugh as he pulled out a pack of gum and handed me a piece.

“Thanks.” I said as I unwrapped it and popped it in my mouth.

“You wanna head back in there?” He asked. I laughed and shook my head.

“No, I'm just gonna stay out here.” I said. “I'll probably end up getting sick again if I move.”

He just nodded and we sat in silence for a few minutes. Eventually Tony broke the silence.

“So, who was better?” He asked. I looked over at him with eyebrow raised.

“What?” I asked.

“You heard me.” He laughed.

“I can't answer that.” I laughed. “Alex is my ex which automatically makes kissing him weird, and I don't even remember kissing you.”

“If you don't remember then why did you avoid me all day?” He asked, elbowing me playfully.

“Okay fine, I vaguely remember it.” I said, laughing a bit as I shook my head “But I'm not comparing you guys.”

“I'm just gonna take it as I'm better because you didn't puke after you kissed me.” He said. I rolled my eyes at the smug look on his face.

“You're not my ex and you don't chew spearmint gum.” I told him.

“Yeah, so I automatically have the upper hand.” He laughed. I laughed too and shook my head.

“Okay, fine. You're not all grabby and desperate like Alex.” I said. “But it wasn't any less weird.” I added quickly.

“Fair enough.” He laughed.

We returned to sitting in silence after that. After an hour or so everyone who wasn't meant to be on our bus started stumbling out, including Jenna, who was incredibly wasted.

“Have fun being DD?” I asked her. She just laughed and came over and sat on the other side of me.

“Why do you do this?” She asked. “I feel like everyone drinks more when they're trying to get you drunk too.”

“That's because they do.” I laughed.

“That's just evil.” She said, laughing again. When her laughter calmed down she put her hand on my knee to steady herself as she stood up.

“Well, I should get back to my bus before I bet left here.” She said. “Have a good night you guys.”

We both said goodbye and she left. Almost everyone was gone at this point so Tony and I headed back onto the bus. I sighed to myself when I saw that the guys from All Time Low were still here. Alex caught my stare and just smiled at me. I forced a smile back and sat on the couch opposite the one he was sitting on, as far from him as possible, and pushed myself as far into the corner as I could. He looked like he was about to get up, but stopped when Tony sat down next to me, frowning a bit.

“You're not aloud to move until he leaves.” I said quietly.

“Why not?” He asked as he put his arm on the couch behind me.

“Because, if you get up Alex is gonna steal your spot and he's gonna try to talk to me and that is not happening.” I said.

“Why not, you seemed pretty into him earlier.” He said jokingly. I glared up at him and slapped his chest with the back of my hand.

“I'm serious” I whined. “He looked at me all smiley and weird. I don't even want to know what he was gonna try to say to me.”

“Okay, okay.” He laughed. “I'm not going anywhere, no need for the abuse.”

“Jacie Rae, that was probably your worst attempt at DD that I have ever seen.” Jack said, snapping a bottle cap at me. I just flipped him off in response.

“He's not wrong Jace.” Zack laughed. “It was pretty weak.”

“Dude, I haven't been DD since I was seventeen. Cut me some slack. You're lucky I'm not dead right now.” I laughed.

“Can you feel your face now?” Mike asked. I laughed again and nodded.

“Yes, I can feel my face.”

“Sweet, then you can come smoke with me again.” He said, jumping off the couch and grabbing my hand.

He pulled me outside and lit up the joint that was behind his ear. He took a couple puffs and then handed it to me so I could do the same. About halfway through Zack and the rest of the guys came outside.

“You guys leaving?” I asked.

“Yeah, gotta get heading soon.” Zack said.

“Alright, see you guys tomorrow.” I said with a wave. Zack, Rian, and Jack left but Alex stayed behind.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” He asked.

“I'll give you two some space.” Mike said, handing the joint to me.

“No, Mike don't-” I sighed when he ignored me and went on the bus. I took one last big puff off the joint and then put it out.

“What do want?” I asked as I blew the smoke out above my head.

“I just wanted to make sure you knew that the whole kissing thing wasn't my idea.” He said.

“Well I would hope not, considering you have a girlfriend.” I said, sounding rather irritated.

“What you mean Tay?” He laughed. “She's not my girlfriend.”

“Sure she's not Alex.” I said sarcastically.

“Alright, she is, but we're not serious.” He corrected.

“Still your girlfriend.” I pointed out. “Anything else or can I go inside?”

“Uh, yeah. One more thing.” He said. I crossed my arms over my chest and raised an eyebrow at him.

“What?” I asked. Before I could react he grabbed my face and kissed me. Immediately I shoved him away.

“Dude, really?” I snapped, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

“You really don't feel anything for me anymore, do you?” He asked, honestly sounding disappointed.

“No!” I yelled. “And if you kiss me again I'm gonna fucking kick you in the balls!”

“Alright, I just had to make sure.” He said. I just stared at him in disbelief.

“Get the fuck out of here.” I spat as I turned around and stormed onto the bus.

“Well aren't you just a little ray of sunshine.” Jaime laughed. I just glared at him.

“I swear to god, if any of you ever leave me alone with that fucker again, I will make your lives a living hell.” I said, pointing at all of them before I headed to my bunk and climbed inside.

“What'd he do?” Mike laughed.

“He fucking kissed me!” I yelled and then ripped the curtain shut.

Notes