What's So Good About Picking Up the Pieces?
Chapter Three.
Lyla's P.O.V:
I woke up to the sounds of someone moving around the bus, not very quietly I might add. My head was throbbing and the light blinded my eyes as I tried to pry them open. I stretched my arms above my head, hitting something in the process. I turned over to see Austin passed out next to me.
"Shit, shit shit, oh please no," I mumbled quietly to myself, hoping Austin wasn't in my bed for the reason that was racing through my mind. I slowly lifted up the covers and noticed I was still fully clothed, letting out a huge sigh of relief.
I climbed out of the bunk, getting dizzy as I stood up, and grabbed ahold of the wall to steady myself. I opened my eyes to see Phil standing in front of me, a cup of coffee in one hand and a bottle of ibuprofen in the other.
"Here. I figured you'd probably want this," he said sweetly handing me the steaming hot mug and the pills. I tossed back the pills washing them down with the coffee, the delicious liquid warming my insides on the way down. I finished my coffee rather quickly, and decided to take a shower so I could use the bathroom before everyone else got up. I grabbed a towel, shut the bathroom door, and stepped under the warm water, letting it fall down my body.
I stood under the water lost in my thoughts, the same thoughts that crept their way into my head every morning. I had dreamed about him last night....again. In my dreams it never ended the way it really did. We found happiness one way or another, and it made it even harder to wake up and realize that it was only ever going to be a dream.
I know I'm pathetic: it's been 7 years for Christ's sake! I was a teenager. But he was the one, I knew it the moment I met him. He truly broke me when he left me for dead, and it followed me to this day. You'd think I would hate him; actually I do, but there is still a little part of me that is in love him with, at least with who he used to be. I was working on getting better, trying to put him and everything else behind me, and honestly thanks to Austin I was better off than I was a year ago.
Time heals all wounds, right? This one's just taking its sweet ass time.
I was so lost in thought that I barely heard the bathroom door open as someone entered. I poked my head out of the shower, keeping my body covered to see Austin standing at the sink brushing his teeth.
"Can I help you?" I asked, glaring at him, our eyes meeting in the mirror. "El bano es occupado," I said, before disappearing back into the shower.
"Well I've been waiting for like half an hour and I got tired of waiting." He said, his words barely audible as the toothbrush was still in his mouth. I shook my head and finished washing my hair before turning off the water.
"Hand me that towel, please?" I asked as I poked my head out of the shower once more. A small smirk played at Austin's mouth as he grabbed the towel and turned to face me.
"Hmmmmmm....why should I?" He asked, his eyes full of mischieft.
"Because apparently I let you sleep in my bed last night," I shot back. He nodded his head and shrugged his shoulders.
"Fair enough," he said handing me the towel as he exited the bathroom. I wrapped the towel around me and stepped out into the cool air, sending shivers down my spine. I towel-dried my hair and brushed my teeth. I shook my head at myself when I realized I forgot to bring clothes into the bathroom with me, and I stepped out of the bathroom timidly as I walked to my suitcase, hurridly trying to find something to wear before any of the boys noticed.
"Well, well. This is quite a surprise," I heard a familiar voice say. I turned around to face Alan, who was smirking at me kinda creepily. I flipped him the finger before grabbing my clothes and disappearing back into the small bathroom.
I changed into a dark grey v-neck tshirt and a pair of short jean shorts. I walked out of the bathroom to the back lounge to finish getting ready, leaving the bathroom free for whoever wanted it next. I blow dryed my hair and decided to leave it wavy, curling a few pieces here and there to perfect it. I applied my make up like I always did and walked back to the front of the bus where Austin was seated at the table, eating a bowl of cereal. I sat down next to him and grabbed the spoon out of his hand, taking a bite of his Fruity Pebbles.
"Lyla!!! That's mine!!" He said like a little boy, pouting and giving me a sad face. I just smiled as I took another bite and handed him his spoon back. I sat there in silence as he finished his cereal, leaning my head back against the back of the couch, closing my eyes, my head still pounding.
"Where's everyone else?" I asked Austin, my eyes still closed.
"Their helping load in," he said, his mouth full of cereal. He grabbed his bowl and took it to the sink before turning around to look at me. "Let's go!" He said excitedly as he walked towards me, grabbing my hands and pulling me off of the couch.
"Go where?" I muttered, getting dizzy again from the abrupt movement. He grabbed my shoulders to steady me.
"Well, darling, I thought I'd show you around, introduce you to some people, and maybe catch a few shows before we play later."
We walked out of the bus into the heat and I couldn't help but smile as I took it all in. Everyone was rushing around. I could see merch tents off in the distance and people everywhere. Austin saw me smiling and pulled me into a side hug.
"Welcome to Warped Tour, Lyle. There's nothing like it." He handed me my all-access pass and I clipped it onto my belt loop. "Hop on," he said, motioning to his back. I didn't hesitate before jumping onto his back, Austin grabbing the backs of my legs and hoisting me piggy-back style onto his back.
He carried me through the masses of people, some giving us strange looks, and others getting excited when they saw who they were walking past. I couldn't help but laugh as a group of young girls came rushing towards Austin. He signed some autographs for them without putting me down, and then we proceed to head towards a merch tent that read "Sleeping With Sirens" on the front.
When we reached the table Austin put me down, and grabbed my hand as he led me towards the back of the tent where a cute guy with black hair and a sleeve was talking to a guy with short red hair.
"What's up, dude?!" the red head exclaimed as he noticed Austin, reaching out and doing that awkward dude handshake with him. The other guy turned around, also shaking hands with Austin before they both noticed me standing behind him.
"Who's this?" the dark headed guy asked Austin, motioning in my direction. "Does Carlile have him a new lady?" He asked, looking out from the top of his sunglasses.
"He wishes!" I exclaimed, as I playfully punched Austin in the arm.
"You wish," he shot back at me, sticking his tongue out. "Nah, this is Lyla, my bestie." He said and I cringed at the word "bestie". "She's gonna be hangin out all summer. She's a photographer so I brought her along to take pictures of the band."
"Oh sweet," the dark haired guy said, taking a step towards me. "I'm Kellin Quinn," he said, reaching out to shake my hand. "And that's Jesse," he said as he nodded towards the red head. Jesse stepped forward to shake my hand as well.
"Nice to meet you both," I replied smiling.
"Alright Carlile it was nice seeing ya, man. We gotta go we play in ten," Kellin said. He looked at me. "If you guys aren't busy you should swing by and watch the set. We're on Main Stage today," Kellin said, seemingly rubbing it in Austin's face. Austin laughed and the boys walked off as Austin pulled me in the opposite direction.
We walked around the venue for a little longer, Austin showing me all the different stages and several merch tents, stopping to introduce me to some people along the way.
It was 3:30 and OM&M were scheduled to play at 4 so we headed toward the stage were we met up with the other guys. They finished getting their gear ready and I took my place sidestage with a bunch of random people. Soon Phil, Valentino, and Alan were rushing towards the stage, each giving me smiles and high-fives as they ran past me. The sounds of "O.G. Loko" filled the speakers as the band began to play, and Austin began walking up the ramp.
When he reached me he leaned in kissing me on the forehead, and as he walked past me I smacked him on the ass, laughing at his reaction before he sprinted on stage.
I loved watching my best friend perform. He really put everything he had into it. He was always so energetic; it was fascinating. They finished out their set with "Second & Sebring", my personal favorite, and then bid farewell to the crowd before running off stage. I followed them down the ramp and giggled as they high-fived each other, their adrenaline still rushing. Austin turned and walked towards me trying to pull me into a hug. I quickly pushed him off.
"Have you lost your mind? You are not hugging me when you're all sweaty and gross," I said to him, wrinkling up my nose. He laughed and kissed the top of head instead.
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I helped the guys gather up their gear and we started the walk back to the bus, stopping to chat with a few fans and other bands along the way. We walked past a merch tent, closing in on the bus, when we heard someone call Austin's name. He turned and walked toward the tent where two guys were standing.
"Dude you killed it today," one of the guys said, high fiving Austin.
"Thanks man," Austin responded. He turned and smiled at me. "Lyla this is Jaime and that's Tony. They are in Pierce the Veil." He said, motioning towards the mexican guys. "Guys, this is Lyla."
Jaime, the one who had spoke to Austin, pulled me into a big hug, and I awkwardly hugged him back, struggling under his tight hold.
"Hey, hey, hey! Hands off Preciado!" I heard Austin exclaim before protectively pulling me back to him, causing us all to laugh. "Get your own beautiful best friend," Austin said, smirking down at me.
"Just tell me where I can find one like that and I will!" Jaime retorted back, causing me to blush while Tony and Austin laughed at me.
"Where's Mike?" Austin asked. Almost immediatly we heard a voice come from behind us.
"Mike is right here," the voice said, Austin and I turning to face him. Austin shook the tall guy's hand, and turned to me once again. An unseasy feeling came over me, and I couldn't explain it. I was face to face with a guy about Austin's height, who was covered head to toe in tattoos, and had a lip ring. I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew him...but from where?
"Lyla James this is THE Mike Fuentes, drummer for PTV," Austin said, though I hardly heard a word he said. My face dropped. Fuentes. This can't be happening.
I glanced at Mike quickly, who had removed his sunglasses, his eyes wide with realization.
"Lyla?" Mike stuttered questioningly.
This isn't real; I couldn't be face to face with my childhood best friend, the best friend I hadn't spoken to in 7 years, the best friend whose older brother had broke my heart so long ago.
Before I knew what was happening I was sprinting in the direction of the buses; all I knew was I needed out of there. I faintly heard Austin running after me, yelling my name, but I was faster than him. I was determined. Before I knew it I had ran out of the venue, and was continuing down the strange road, the sunlight diminishing from the sky with each passing minute. I couldn't stop running. My mind was racing and I felt as if I couldn't breathe.
If Mike was there then that meant that his older brother was too, the older brother who had shattered my heart into a trillion pieces, who I hated with everything in me, who I was still in love with.
Vic Fuentes.
8/1/13