A Kiss That Taste Like Summer (Tony Perry)

I woke up early and rolled outta bed. I shuffled my way into the bathroom and started the shower, I slipped out of my clothes and into the warm water. I was thinking where should I go looking? Should I try to find another shop or move onto something else, maybe something bigger. I rinsed my hair and my body and stepped out of the shower wrapping my hair in a towel and wrapping another one around me.

I walked to my closet to find something to wear, I threw on a ripped up tank and some skinnys. I walked back to the bathroom to wash my face, brush my teeth, dry my hair and do my make up. I did nothing to my hair, I blowdyed it and let it curl naturally. And I kept my make up as simple and natural as possible. Satisfied with how I looked I put in my plugs, slid on my vans, grabbed my phone, keys, and went out the door.

I was driving downtown looking for any 'HELP WANTED' signs but saw none. I saw a few tattoo shops but I didnt want to pull in. I felt like maybe tattooing isnt my thing. I sighed and pulled into StarBucks for some coffee. I ordered my coffee and sat alone at a table. I pulled my phone out and checked my messages.

Tony: Goodmorning :)

Tony: What are you doing today?

Tony: Are you okay?

Tony: Liz?

I smiled at the text, and called him.

"Hello?"

"Hi Tone" I said smiling

"Hey! Where are you, whats up?" he asked

"I'm at StarBucks right now, why what are you doing?"

"I'm about to head over to Vic's for a party and I was wondering if you could come?" he asked.

"I'd love to Tony, but I'm out looking for a job right now"

"You can look tomorrow, I'll go with you, come with me babe. Come have fun"

I sighed and agreed. "I'll be over in 20, okay?"

"Okay see you then, I love you"

"Love you too"

I hung up and walked out to my car. I got to Tony's pretty fast. I parked my car next to his and walked to the door. I knocked and the door swung open with tattoed arms grabbing me and familiar lips pressed to mine. I smiled against his lips and pushed him back.

"What I missed you" he said leaning into kiss me again. I turned my head away to tease him. He made a pouting face I kissed him cheek then turned and walked to his car.

"So who's going to be at this get together?" I asked getting in the car.

"The guys" he said laughing.

"Just the guys?"

"Yeah, I figured if I told you it was a party you'd come" he said laughing.

"Your a jerk," I said turning around and looked out the window preteding to pout "I thought I was gunna have fun"

"Uh that hurt" Tony said grabbing his chest "It'll be fun. The guys want to offically met you and you need to chill. With everything thats going on with your job. You need to chill out and have some drinks."

"Tony that may be easy for you to say, but sadly I live in the real world. I'm not some badass musician that can go on tour come home and make a bunch of money." I saw him tense up. "I'm sorry Tone," I said putting my hand on his thigh "I'm just trying to help you realise it's kinda a big deal. If I can't find a job, I don't have a house, food, clothes. Tomorrow we'll go and look for a job, but tonight I'll listen to you. I'll chill out and have some drinks and chill with you and the guys. Okay?"

"You think I would let that happen to you?" He asked. His voice low.

"What?" I asked. Tony pulled off to the side of the road and stopped the car.

"Let you go homeless? Let you have nothing? Not support you?" he said turning torwards me.

"What are you talking about Tony?"

"I'm talking about I'll support you, thats why I don't want you to worry. I'll pay your bills, I'll make sure you don't lose eveything, I'll take care of you, I love you." he said.

I watched him speak. His sad big brown eyes looking at me. My eyes started to swell with tears. I didn't know how to react, I never thought anyone would care so much about me. Someone for once in my life was offering to take care of me. I'v never had that. Everything I have and have done was because I had to work for it earn it. And he was willing to give me everything.

"Tony.." I whispered. Tears freely rolling down my cheeks.

He unbuckled him self and reach across the seat pulling me into his arms. His hands held my face while he kissed me softly. My lips moved in sync with his. He pulled away and put our forheads together

"Please be my girlfriend, move in with me, I don't want you to worry anymore or ever again." he said.

I held his face in my hands and planted my lips on his. Tears streaming down my cheeks. I broke away and burried my face in his neck sobbing softly. He rubbed my back softy shushing me.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I love you" he whispered in my ear.

-

"Hey you guys made it!" Jamie said grabbing me and then Tony into hugs. He led us into the house and into the back where Vic and Mike.

"Hey," Vic said getting out of his chair to greet me and Tony. He gave Tony a pat on the back then hugged me. "I'm Vic," he said "if you didn't remember" he said with a chuckle.

I blushed remembering the first time they met me I was sucking face with Tony.

"Liz" I said with a smile.

"Oh I know your name, Tony here never shuts up about you" Vic said before punching Tony in the arm lightly.

Tony's face went bright red.

"Yeah it's always Liz this and Liz that, what about me Tony?" Mike said joining the conversation.

I giggled and Tony went even more red.

"I'm Mike, just in case you didn't remember."

"And I'm.."

"Jaime" I said smiling "I remember all you guys names. I mean we have met before."

They all just laughed. We sat down and got some beers. The guys pretty much told me tour stories and talked about the band. They all shared funny stories about each other. Like when Vic nailed the roof of their van in Jersey and there was a giant whole in the ceiling, then it rained for 3 day straight. Or when their generator on the bus caught fire. And when Tony thought it would be funny to run into a corner store with a ski mask on. I laughed a lot, they all seemed to have a great time together. Then they talked about their fans and how amazing they are.

"So enough with us" Vic finally said "what about you?"

"What about me?" I asked

"Well, tell us about you" he said.

I took a deep breath.

"Well I'm Elizabeth Vegara, or Liz which is what I like to be called, I'm 24 years old, I'm from Florida originally but left what I was 19 and lived here in California ever since. I'm a artist," I said motioning towards Tony's neck. He held his head back so they could all see it even better. All their jaws dropped.

"You did that?" Jaime asked

I nodded my head and smiled at Tony who leaned over and kissed me.

"Tony why didn't you tell us your girlfriends a tattoo artist? Free tattoos!" Mike said.

"I'm not," I said looking down at the ground.

"Huh?" Vic asked.

"I'm only, I mean I was an apprentice."

"What do you mean 'was'?"

"I got.." I was cut off by Tony.

"She decided she didn't need her bosses bullshit. And decided she can do whatever she wants to ands not going to let anyone tell her what she can and can't be"

Vic, Mike, and Jaime all looked at Tony in disbelief.

"Alright go Liz for standing up for yourself" Mike said clapping his hands.

"And way to go Tony for standing up for her" Vic said.

"That's right, I'll stand up for her no matter what" he said.

I smiled at him. He was everything I could had asked for. With only the short amount of time everything has happened he's been so supportive and protective of me.

The guys went back at talking and I needed to use the bathroom. I slipped back into the house with out the guys really noticing. I used the bathroom then went to the kitchen to get another drink.

"Hey" a familiar voice said.

I turned to see Vic standing in the doorway of the kitchen. "Hi," I said getting another beer " do you want another one?" I asked.

"No, I actually came in here to talk to you"

"Me? About what?"

"About you and Tony," he said. My heart started beating fast. Was he going to tell me something bad? Did he not like me? He must have notice me getting worried cause he came over to me. "No no no, don't worry it's nothing bad!" He said

I sighed a breath of relief.

"I just wanted to say that I'm glad you and Tony found each other. He seems really happy with you, and I've never seen him get so defensive over a girl" he said with a chuckle. I laughed too. "And I also wanted to ask you about a job, if you haven't already found on"

"No! I haven't! Do you have one?" I asked

"Yeah, we're leaving for tour next week. Three months, have you ever heard of Warped Tour?"

"Yes I haven't been their since I was teenager! I didn't know it was still around to be honest." Vic laughed and I smiled.

"Well, we need a merch girl. So if you can fold clothes and run a cash register you got the job"

"Oh my god thank you so much Vic" I said wrapping my arms around him.

"It's not problem, and now you can be with Tony all summer" he said smiling. "Come on let's get back to the others"

I followed him back out to the guys. I curled up next to Tony and rest my head on his shoulder. I was so excited, I have a job! Merch girl for Pierce the Veil! Ah! And Warped Tour! I was so excited. But why hadn't Tony said anything? Vic said we leave next week and its already Thursday. When was he planning on telling me he was leaving? What if he didn't want me to come on tour, what if he doesn't want me to go next week. Worries and doubts were running through my mind.

It was getting late and the guys were just talking and talking. I listened for a while until I felt my eyes grow heavy and I felt asleep on Tonys shoulder.