He Wanted Love (3/5)
Title: He Wanted Love
Bandom: AFI
Pairings: Javey, Smunter, Adam/OFC
Rating: NC-17
Summary: When Jade meets and befriends two fangirls after a concert, AFI gets more than they bargained for.
Disclaimer: I do not own AFI, this includes Jade, Davey, Adam, Hunter, or Smith. Nor, do I own Sick Of It All, The Dear and Departed, Kill Hannah, It Dies Today, or Papa Roach. Or pretty much anyone else mentioned in this. Except Jessy and Herbert. Rights to The Leaving Song belong to AFI and rights to Rebel Yell belong to Billy Idol. The cover done by Kill Hannah is amazing, I strongly suggest giving it a listen.
Part One Part Two
Wanda pulled up next to the huge bus and put the van into park. A frowning security guard walked up to them, shining his flashlight into the windows. Wanda rolled down the window, admitting the frigid cold air into the nice heat of the van, causing Jessy to yelp and scramble for her hoodie (Mandy laughing as she fell off of her chair).
“You can’t park here, ma’am.”
“My daughters know the band, its fine.”
The guard raised an eyebrow. “Right… They know the band… I’m going to have to ask you to move.”
Mandy rolled her eyes. “Call fucking Smith over here.”
The guard’s frown deepened, his whole manner screaming doubt, as he placed a walkie-talkie against his lips. “Yeah, Puget, this is Herbert… Yeah, we’ve got some girls claiming to know the band…” Jessy, now wrapped securely within her hoodie, snickered. Herbert?
“Well, leave them the fuck alone then, fuck head.” Came Smith’s static-filled voice.
Surprised, the man returned the walkie-talkie to his belt. “Fucking asshole.” He muttered as he walked away.
Giggling, Jessy scrambled out of the van and ran across to the bus. Mandy followed at a more leisurely pace, rolling her eyes in an annoyed manner when Jessy didn’t immediately open the door.
“What? Come on, Jess, its fucking freezing, get the door open.”
“How cool is it that we know the code to AFI’s tour bus?” Jessy laughed, punching in the numbers and swinging the door open, climbing up into the bus. Mandy shook her head, heaving herself up as well.
Hunter and Adam looked very bored from where they sat cross-legged on the couch, facing one another, playing rock-paper-scissors. Smith was bent over the booth-like table, muttering slightly as he went over… something tour manager-y. Davey and Jade were M.I.A., no doubt doing their makeup.
Jessy tackled the closest one -Adam -in a hug. “ADDY!” she squealed.
Adam laughed and adjusted his position so that he could hug her more comfortably, while Hunter bounced up and went to hug Mandy.
“Thank God! I’m so fucking bored.” Hunter whined. “Smiffy won’t let us leave.”
“We can leave as soon as the queens are done getting ready, so quit your bitching Hunter.” Smith grumbled. “Damnit, stupid fucking small print.”
Jessy, who’d collapsed next to Adam rather than sitting on top of him, looked over at him. “Aw, what’s wrong, Smiffers?”
“Stupid fucking place doesn’t give band members or staff free drinks.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “The only one that effects is you because neither Hunter nor I ever get drunk before or after a show.”
“Yeah, but damnit I deserve those damn free beers.”
Jessy laughed and shook her head. “Poor Smiff. I’d buy you some, but a) I’m broke and b) I’m sixteen and not of age to buy you any.”
“Yeah, well, it’s the thought that counts, right?” Smith muttered, offering Jessy a small smile.
Jessy beamed. “Exactly!”
“DAMNIT DAVEY!” a sudden exclamation was heard from the back. Jessy frowned. It sounded like Jade but since when did Jade yell at Davey?
Davey came running out of the bathroom. “Hide me, hide me, protect me!” he chanted. “Oh, hi, girls.” He gave each Mandy and Jessy very quick hugs before Jade was bursting from the bathroom and Davey squeaked, running further away from Jade.
“DAVE!” Jade roared.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Smith asked.
“He fucking did it again.”
“Did what?” Jessy asked, looking at Davey who smiled innocently and actually started whistling, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes.
“He cut off my hawk! It’s taken me fucking months to grow it out since the last time and he did. It. AGAIN!”
Jessy stood and walked around Jade, promptly beginning to giggle as she reached out and ruffled the short hairs at the back of Jade’s head.
“At least it looks good.”
Jade glared at her over his shoulder.
“Well, it’s not like you could blame me. It makes me sneeze.” Davey defended himself.
“It makes you sneeze?” Mandy repeated.
Jade rolled his eyes. “He’s gotten this thing for putting his nose against my neck while we sleep. And when he breathes in, he inhales some of my hair, which makes him sneeze. And, really, I think I’m the victim there considering you sneeze into MY hair.” He threw a glare at Davey.
“Oh, just kiss and make up.” Jessy muttered, rolling her eyes.
Jade glared at her, but Davey grinned. “Sounds like a wonderful idea.” He purred, beginning to walk towards Jade. Jessy stared at his facial expression, eyes growing distant. Smith cocked his head and waved his hand before her eyes, making her jump.
“What?”
“You had your look again.” Mandy helpfully supplied.
“What look?”
“The look you get when you’re thinking of the Javey sex.”
Jade broke eye contact with Davey to shoot Jessy a look somewhere between annoyance and amusement.
“Oh… That’s not a strictly Javey face… That’s just a slash face. I get it with every pairing… except, you know, the ones I hate.”
“Advey.”
Adam frowned. “What?” he asked, looking towards Mandy.
Davey shook his head wildly. “Don’t tell him. You’d scar him for life.”
“No! What is it?” Adam insisted.
Jessy started laughing. “Well, you know how Javey is Jade/Davey… Well, they’re not the only pairing imagined.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, there’s Hundam, which is you and Hunter, Jadam, which is you and Jade, Smadam, which is you and Smith, and Nildam, which is you and Nils. There’s a few other, more minor ones, too. Then there’s Junter, which is Jade and Hunter, and Hunvey, which is Hunter and Davey, and Smunter, which is Smith and Hunter. I’ve never found a Hunter/Nils one… I don’t think. Advey, my least favorite pairing ever -minus Harry and Ginny which should never, ever have existed -is you and Davey.”
Adam’s face had turned various different colors throughout Jessy’s little explanation, which greatly amused both Jessy and Mandy, the fangirls they were (Jessy more so than Mandy).
Smith’s attention, however, had been captured. “People put me with Adam?”
“People put you with everyone, Smiffy. There’s Smadam, Smunter, Smavey, and, the one that will completely freak everyone out, Smade.”
“Smade… I have a very bad feeling about that one.” Jade muttered.
“Jade/Smith.” Jessy smirked.
Jade shuddered. Davey crinkled his nose and wrapped his arms securely around Jade’s waist. “Ew.”
Smith cocked his head. “Well, if he wasn’t my brother, I’d say he’d definitely be fuckable, but I can safely say incest is not one of my kinks.”
“And what are your kinks, Smiffy?” Hunter teased.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Smith winked. He looked back at his watch and let out a very long, lengthy string of curses, ending with “We’re fucking late!”
There was a collective eye roll done by the other six. Smith’s idea of late was running five minutes early. Nevertheless, Smith began running around the bus, throwing coats, gloves, scarves, and hats at people without making sure the right people got the right gear. This only lead to more confusion as Davey rescued his gloves from Adam, his coat from Jade, and his hat from Jessy (who couldn’t figure out why Smith had crammed it on her head in the first place), meanwhile, Hunter and Adam had to switch coats and Jade and Hunter had to switch gloves. Finally, they were ready and they all ventured outside. Mandy and Jessy both shivered violently. Adam wrapped his arm around Mandy’s shoulder and dropped his hat onto her head while Jessy wrapped her arms around Smith’s waist, cuddling into him with a whimper.
They got inside successfully and without even the slightest bit of trouble. Everyone de-winterized themselves and Smith set off, making sure everything was properly set up. Adam ventured off to make sure his drum set was set up to his specifications so they could do a soundcheck while Hunter bribed some dude to go to the nearest Starbucks.
Davey, who was smiling way too brightly, wrapped an arm around the girls’ waists. “Did I tell you I finally determined what you jobs will be?”
Mandy shook her head, looking slightly apprehensive. “No…”
“Wait, I thought my job was to write awesome fanfics that don’t require disclaimers because they DO happen and I DO know you, which is just awesome, let me tell you.” Jessy whined. “I have to have another job?”
Davey rolled his eyes. “Yes.”
Jessy pouted, allowing Davey to grab her hand and lead her and Mandy towards his makeup case. He picked up two black cases next to the makeup case and studied them briefly before handing one to Mandy and one to Jessy.
Jessy stared at it in confusion. She ran her thumb over the white circlet of bunnies and smiled at the script in the center. Instead of the usual ‘AFI’, it read ‘JxN’. “Aw, Dave…”
“Don’t go squealing yet… You haven’t even opened it.”
Jessy opened it, watching Mandy crack hers open as well from the corner of her eye. She gasped and set the case down, pulling out the most magnificent digital camera she’d ever seen.
“Oh my God, it’s beautiful.” Mandy breathed, removing her own camera from her case. Jessy noticed there were slight differences between the two cameras and she looked to Davey for assistance.
“Smith picked them out, but from what he told me, Mandy’s specializes in taking precise pictures in different lightings. Meaning the light show won’t fuck up the pictures. Jessy’s is for taking clear shots of quick motion and it takes less than a second to snap a photo. They’ve both got awesome zooms, too.”
Jessy squealed and hugged Davey tightly, pulling away so that Mandy could hug him, too. The girls ran their hands over the cool, smooth, black metal. Davey took booklets from each of their cases and handed them each one. Instruction manuals. Jessy made a face and Davey just smiled at her.
“And, you get these as well.” Jade said, coming up behind them and slipping badges over their heads.
Jessy picked up the badge and looked at it. “Jessy Nelson, official AFI photographer”.
“Aw, Jadey!” she exclaimed and hugged him. Jade laughed and returned the hug.
“Okay, you’ve got a few hours to work out the gist of how they work before the show. Go have fun.” Davey commanded.
Jessy and Mandy grinned, quickly running off. They walked out from backstage and set down on the second stage. They carefully set down their cameras and cracked open the instruction manuals. They had a lot to learn in a few hours.
Jessy cracked up and Mandy elbowed her. “Quit distracting them.” Jessy giggled, showing Mandy the picture she’d just took. Mandy’s eyes widened and she snorted. “Is Smith picking his nose?”
The girls looked up at Smith, just in time to see him casually wipe his finger on Jade’s tee shirt. They both wrinkled their noses. “Ew.”
“Remind me not to hug Jade until he changes.” Jessy giggled. Mandy nodded her agreement. She peered at the camera window as she zoomed up on Davey.
“Jess, look… I can make out his tattoos from way back here… These cameras rock.”
Jessy nodded her agreement, turning the camera over in her hands. With a flash of light, the camera took a picture… Of Jessy’s hand.
“Oops…” Jessy muttered, trying to figure out how to delete the picture. Mandy rolled her eyes. “Hey… You don’t think Dave’ll fire me, do you?”
“Phft, no… Then he’d have to live with whiney Jessy and no one wants to do that.”
Jessy stuck her tongue out at her best friend. Mandy shook her head and Jessy laughed. She pulled her case into her lap and opened it up, curiously going through it.
“Fuck, Manda, he gave us both three cards… How many pictures does he expect us to take?”
Mandy laughed. “He knows us well.”
“Yeah, but one card holds 150 pictures… Each of us could take nearly five hundred pictures!”
Even Mandy had to admit that was going overboard.
“You’ll get use to it.” Hunter said, appearing out of nowhere and scaring the two.
“Holy shit, Hunt! Warning would be nice!” Jessy muttered under her breath.
“Sorry…” Hunter muttered, ducking his head in an adorable way that succeeded in both girls hugging him.
“One day, I’ll be immune to that.” Jessy promised.
“That’s what Davey said… And it still works on him.”
Mandy laughed. “We’ll get use to what, Hunter?”
“Huh? Oh! Davey spoiling you… You’ll get use to it. He spoils Smith, too. You haven’t even seen your other presents.”
“We get more?” Mandy gasped, jaw dropping.
“Well, yeah… But this one is actually practical.”
“What is it?” Jessy asked, bouncing in place.
“Jess, quit bouncing, you’re gonna end up breaking your camera.” Mandy said with a roll of her eyes.
“No, I -” Jessy cut off as she lunged forward, barely managing to catch her camera before it went tumbling over the side of the stage. “Nevermind…”
Mandy calmly reached over and plucked the camera from Jessy’s lap. “Read your manual. You can have it back when you promise to be careful.”
Jessy winced. “Sorry…”
Mandy shook her head and Hunter laughed. He hugged Jessy, whispering in her ear. “I’ll distract Mandy, you grab the camera and run.”
Jessy grinned and Mandy eyed them suspiciously. “What…?”
Hunter shrugged before suddenly leaping at Mandy and tickling her. Mandy cackled with laughter, trying to squirm away from Hunter. Jessy jumped off the stage and seized her camera, running away and laughing. Hunter released Mandy and took off after Jessy.
“Bitches, get back here!” Mandy yelled, putting her camera down and stalking off after the other two.
“SMITH! Save me!” Jessy yelled, jumping on Smith’s back. Smith stumbled, unprepared for the sudden added weight.
Smith twisted and swung Jessy around his side, causing her to shriek. He held her firmly in his arms. “Mandy, are you missing something?”
Jessy looked wildly from Smith to Mandy. “NO! Smiffers, no! AH! Davey, help!”
Davey was giggling, barely able to stand. Jade had an arm wrapped around his waist, supporting him and chuckling as well. Adam was still at his drums, rolling his eyes, but smiling.
Smith set Jessy down and held her in place while Mandy approached with a wicked grin. She tickled Jessy mercilessly, taking back the camera, and bopping Jessy gently on the head.
“Thanks, Smiffy.”
Jessy, out of breath from the tickle attack, glared at Smith and moved away. She crossed her arms and pouted. “Traitor.”
Smith shrugged.
Hunter wrapped an arm around Jessy’s shoulders. “That was mean, Smiff.”
Jessy poked him sharply in the ribs. “I didn’t see you helping me.”
“I was saving my own ass. I was hiding behind Adam. You’ve gotta choose your rescuers better.”
Jessy rolled her eyes. “Well, I thought he’d help me.”
Hunter patted her arm sympathetically. He looked around with a frown. “Hey, whatever happened to our Starbucks?”
Mandy and Jessy’s eyes met and they rolled them in unison.
“Jessy! Mandy!” Davey called. Jessy looked up from her manual, a small frown in place.
“Why the hell do they have to make the damn directions so difficult to understand?” she whined.
Davey shook his head. “Never mind that… Come here for a minute, you two.”
Mandy shrugged and they set down their books, walking over to Davey, who lead them backstage.
“We figured you’d want to meet the others we’re touring with.”
Jessy’s eyes lit up. “Okay!”
Backstage, everyone was in a huge group. Jade was talking to two dark haired individuals, Smith had a bass in his hands, talking to its owner (it wasn’t Hunter’s bass, so Jessy assumed it was Smith’s friend’s), Hunter and Adam were talking to three others, one of whom had a short, blond Mohawk.
“Hey!” Davey yelled, catching everyone’s attention. “Time to meet the new editions. Okay, so this is Jessy and Mandy, our dear friends who’ll be joining us for the rest of the tour. Okay, let’s see… We have the Dear & Departed boys… Dan and David are the two talking to Jade and Darren, Simon, and Joel are the ones trying to sleep in the corner over there… Hunter and Adam are talking to Pete, Lou, and Armand from Sick Of It All and Smithy there is bugging Rich to teach him another song since ‘Hunter rudely stole his last one’.”
Jessy giggled, not able to exactly help it. She caught Mandy’s eye and mouthed ‘Stolen song’. Mandy rolled her eyes, but giggled as well.
Davey raised an eyebrow. “Am I missing something?”
“Only slightly.”
Jessy and Mandy stood offstage, watching The Dear & Departed perform. Davey and Jade had vanished. No one knew where they were, but everyone knew what they were doing. Smith stood with them, anxiously bouncing on the balls of his feet. Jessy swore that he got more tense and nervous than any of the actual band members. Hunter was talking absently with Adam, trying to ignore the sound of all the screaming fans.
Jessy could see the crowd. She sighed, wanting to be out amongst it… though maybe not anywhere near the middle where there was a hellacious mosh pit already forming. It was just being out in the crowd, looking up at the band and screaming your heart out. She leant her head on Mandy’s shoulder and sighed again, smile quirking a bit when Mandy did the exact same thing.
Adam was suddenly behind them. He wrapped a loose arm around Mandy’s shoulders while Hunter did the same to Jessy.
“There’s always a part of you who wants to be in the crowd…” Hunter murmured. “It doesn’t go away.”
Adam nodded his agreement, looking out across the crowd.
“Davey’s not going to like them.” He said, eyes lingering upon the mosh pit and a few random crowd surfers.
“Davey’s dealt with worse crowds.” Smith said, suddenly at Hunter’s elbow.
“It does look particularly bad tonight, doesn’t it?” Davey said, joining them and causing Mandy and Jessy to jump at his sudden presence.
“Jesus, Davey, I thought you were fucking Jade.”
Davey smirked. “I did…” He frowned, looking out across the crowd. “He’s out in the crowd.”
Smith frowned. “Is that smart?”
Davey shrugged. “I’m not sure.” His worry was etched across his face, however. It was in the way his dark eyes narrowed as he tried to pick Jade out of the crowd, an impossible task, in the way he tugged at his lip ring, pulling the skin slightly.
Dear & Departed wrapped up their set and exited the stage. Davey hugged Dan and then David, clapping Simon on the back as the crew went into the set change. Davey spoke to Dan in a low whisper, his face anxious. After a while, Dan nodded before walking away to change shirts. He pulled off his STILL ILL hoodie and slipping on a green and white poke-a-dot shirt. Along with the rest of D&D, he left the backstage area in favor of going out to stand by the merch tables.
Davey returned to stand at Smith’s side, still not looking too relaxed. “Dan said he was going to look for Jade… I don’t like this crowd. If feels as if they’re waiting for a reason to riot. Like they’re not here for the music, just the adrenaline release. It’s not a crowd I want Jade in.”
Looking back out across the crowd, both Mandy and Jessy nodded their agreement. They’d both been to a lot of shows and this crowd scared them more than any other they’d witnessed.
As Sick Of It All’s set continued, Davey got more and more anxious. Smith was doing his best to pacify him, but wasn’t doing nearly as well as he would hope. When their set ended and Jade still wasn’t back, Smith joined Davey in his near hysterics.
“Oh my God, the crowd’s killed Jade! They’ve killed him and we don’t even know and we’re going to have to cancel the show and they’re going to riot and we’re going to have to make a run for it and Adam and Hunter and Jessy will all die in the chaos and they’re mutilated bodies will be found with Jade’s in the morning but not by us because Davey, Mandy, and I will have to run and hide in the mountains, living off beans and I HATE BEANS!” Smith wailed.
Jessy giggled, despite her own worries. “Relax, Smithers, I’m sure it’s not that bad… Look, Mandy and I have to go out there anyway to take pictures, so why don’t we go find Jade for you, okay?”
Smith nodded pitifully and Davey just paced anxiously. Jessy shook her head, seized Mandy’s wrist, and pulled her from backstage. They stuck to shadows, trying to sneak past the crowd, hoping no one would notice the two girls coming from backstage.
“Jess, I’m pretty sure we’re the only two in the world who try and sneak OUT of backstage.” Mandy said, voice barely loud enough for Jessy to hear. Jessy grinned, stopping to look out across the venue. They stood in silence, craning necks and standing on tiptoes. “THERE!” Mandy suddenly exclaimed. Jessy’s eyes zeroed in on where Mandy was pointing.
Jade was leaning against a wall. His hat was pulled low, his face ducked down low as he tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. Mandy and Jessy wound their way over to him, casually leaning on either side of him and hiding him further from the crowd.
“He worried?” Jade asked, a small smile forming.
Jessy nodded. “It goes so beyond that it’s not even funny.”
“Your brother’s joined him. He went all random on us. He rambled. About riots and death.” Mandy added, grinning.
Jade snorted. “Yeah, he does that. I guess we’d better head back.”
“It’d be a good idea.” Mandy nodded. The three linked arms and wound their way through the crowd.
Once backstage, Davey encircled Jade into his arms. “Butthead, you made me worry.”
“Sorry, Dave.”
“It’s fine… One day, someone will recognize you out there.”
“I know… And then I’ll have to stop. But it’s nice to be out amongst the crowd.”
Davey didn’t say anything in reply. He, along with Hunter and Adam, all had looks akin to longing. Jessy bit her lip, remembering Hunter’s earlier comment about always wanting to be in the crowd.
Finally, it was time for them to come on. Smith took each Jessy and Mandy by the hand and led them out onto the stage (he literally had to drag Mandy who hated being in front of large crowds) and helped them drop down at the front of the crowd.
Jessy and Mandy stepped closer to one another, hating the glares they got by the people surrounding them. They exchanged nervous glances and clutched their new cameras a little closer. Two security guards dropped down on either side of them and they both let out sighs of relief, shooting Smith, who was grinning at them, a thumbs-up of thanks.
The lights dimmed, the fog came on, and adrenaline hit the teenagers. It suddenly wasn’t Davey and Jade and Hunter and Adam; it was AFI. It was their favorite band; it was their idols; it was the creators of the music that had so wonderfully ensnared them. They screamed without thinking, grinning widely up at Davey as he walked on stage.
“This is what I brought you, this you can keep,” he sang, eyes falling upon them briefly. “This is what I brought you, may forget me. I promised you my heart, just promise to sing. Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.”
The others joined him and, snapping to their senses, Jessy and Mandy started taking pictures. They may not be able to reach that 500-picture limit, but damn it they were going to try.
Jessy and Mandy quickly got lost in the music and the performance. Jessy had to wipe away tears after Silver and Cold and sniffled a bit during This Time Imperfect.
The band left the stage and the lights shut almost completely off. Jessy blinked and Mandy quickly adjusted her lighting control. Davey and Jade walked back on and stepped onto the podium before the girls. They stared into one another’s eyes and Jade started playing. Davey’s sweet voice filled the air and Jessy felt tears prickle again.
Walked away, heard them say
"Poison hearts will never change, walk away again"
Turned away in disgrace
Felt the chill upon my face cooling from within
It's hard to notice gleaming from the sky
When you're staring at the cracks
It's hard to notice what is passing by with eyes lowered
You... walked away, heard them say
"Poisoned hearts will never change, walk away again"
All the cracks they lead right to me
And all the cracks will crawl right through me
All the cracks, they lead right to me
And all the cracks will crawl right through me, and I fell apart
As I... walked away, heard them say
"Poisoned hearts will never change"
Walked away again
Turned away in disgrace
Felt the chill upon my face cooling from within
For a moment, Davey and Jade just stood there, staring at one another. Then, as one, they turned and walked away, in opposite directions. Both looking like their hearts were breaking, both looking like they were dying with each step they took.
Tears slid down Jessy’s cheeks. They came back on with Hunter and Adam and launched into another song, and Jessy wiped away the tears, but her heart still felt like it had broken a little.
Jessy and Mandy joined in the chant for the encore, just for fun. The opening cords for God Called In Sick Today rang and Jessy and Mandy exchanged looks. Neither held confidence in this crowd and had been relatively relieved when Davey hadn’t done his head-walk. Now, as he reached out a hand to them, they gripped it tightly and helped anchor him as best they could. He sang out across the crowd, walking a bit further into it, but never letting go of the grip he held on Jessy and Mandy’s hands.
Davey crawled back onto the stage and they immediately launched into Miss Murder. The girls bounced and sang along. They grinned at one another when Davey walked Jade backwards and stole a kiss on the cheek.
After the show had ended, the girls climbed back up on stage and rushed off backstage. Jessy threw her arms around Davey, who she ran into first. “Don’t leave Jade.” She mumbled into his shirt, crying slightly again.
“What are you talking about, dear?”
“It’s just… The Leaving Song… You looked so heart broken and you just walked away from one another and…”
“Jessy, that’s what the song is about. I have no plans of ever leaving Jade. I love him.”
“I-I know, but…”
Davey hugged her close. Shaking his head, Jade joined them and several seconds later, Jessy pulled away.
“Okay, I feel better.”
“PIZZA!” Smith called out.
“I call pepperoni!” Jessy called out, running off.
“I’m beginning to seriously think she’s bi-polar.” Jade muttered, taking Davey’s hand and walking after her.
Mandy, arms linked with Hunter and Adam, laughed and shook her head. Jessy just took a while to get use to. And did switch moods rather quickly and unexpectedly.
“You’re kidding me? Never?” Jessy exclaimed, shocked.
“Never.” David confirmed with a bob of his head.
“Oh, you poor, poor boy… Come on.”
“Wha…?”
Jessy just grabbed David by the hand and began dragging him towards where all the coats were piled up. As she walked past him, she grabbed Dan, too, surprising the hell out of him. When they reached the coats, she turned towards them with a rather serious expression.
“Bundle up. We are so having a snowball fight.”
David looked at her for a moment before shaking his head and starting to dig for his coat. Dan chuckled before joining him as Jessy set off to gather everyone else.
Twenty-five minutes later, all of the Dear & Departed as well as Jessy and Mandy were outside. The girls showed the guys how to build a fort and then it was an all out war between the two sides (which, really, was incredibly unfair being as there were five guys against two girls with terribly aim).
Jessy ducked as a snowball came dangerously close to hitting her face and groaned as one hit her in the shoulder instead. Mandy was doing much better dodging than her, which Jessy took a second to pout over before scooping up some snow and packing it together. Her retaliation flew a good foot from her intended target, Simon. It hit Joel in the knee, however, so it wasn’t a total failure.
Suddenly, something that was most definitely not a snowball whizzed by her ear. Jessy yelped and stumbled, falling back onto her butt with a grunt. “What the hell?” she mumbled.
Looking over her shoulder, Jessy was greeted by what was quite possibly the most horrifying sight she’d ever encountered. Smith Puget armed with bottle rockets.
Squeaking, Jessy scurried around to the other side of her fort. “Attack of the insane pyro Smith!” she yelled as a second bottle rocket went off.
The next few minutes were ones of pure chaos as everyone ran in terror from Smith and his semi-dangerous artillery.
“Holy fuck! Smith, you’re on fire!”
Jessy peered around her fort. David was darting around Smith, who was very much on fire, trying to put out the flames. Smith didn’t seem to care that he was on fire and just laughed manically.
Sometimes, Jessy thought Smith really was insane.
“Okay, to be fair, I think that we should all chose beds again. Since we have two new people staying here and all.” Davey announced.
Hunter groaned, Smith pouted, and Adam shook his head wildly, “No, I like my bed.”
Davey shrugged. “Deal with it. Everyone stand up… Now, go find a bed!”
They all tore off. Jade tried doing a ninja-roll into the bed and hit his foot. He yelped out in pain, but had successfully claimed the bed for himself (and Davey). Smith jumped up and pulled himself into a top bunk. “I claim this bunk in the name of Sir Smith!”
Hunter leapt at a lower bunk and successfully claimed a lower bunk. Adam tried for the bunk beneath Smith, but was beat by Mandy.
“No! I want this one! Its mine!”
Mandy snorted. “Oh my God, Addy just whined.”
Jessy giggled as she claimed the lower bunk across from Mandy. “Aw, Addy, that’s so cute.”
Davey threw his duffle on the bunk above Jessy’s. “Oh, quit teasing him… Let him act two.”
“I am not acting two.” Adam pouted, stomping his foot. He looked at his foot in shock. “Um… Anyway, it’s my bunk, Mandy, let me have it.”
“I am not sleeping in a top bunk, Adam, deal with it.”
“You can have Jessy’s -”
“No, she can’t! I toss and turn. I’d fall out of bed!” Jessy protested.
“Fine, Hunter -”
“Sorry, Addy, you know I like bottom bunks.”
“AH! Jade…”
“Does anyone REALLY want to sleep under Davey and me?”
There was a chorus of ‘no’s (except Jessy who shifted without saying anything. Mandy threw a shoe at her). Adam pouted and climbed up onto the bed above Jade. “Well, I don’t particularly want to sleep above you, either.”
Davey grinned and tackled Jade back into their bunk. He cuddled up against him and sighed.
“So… What’s the agenda for tomorrow, Smiffy?”
“We travel. We have tomorrow off to have fun with the girls and get them situated. The venue is about six hours away.” Smith answered.
“You know… There’s a concert here tomorrow night. We could stay for it and still make it to your show on time.” Jessy said, supporting her head on one hand. “Hunter said he’d like to be in the crowd again.”
Davey looked thoughtful. “That’s not a bad idea… Who’s playing?”
Jessy grinned. “Kill Hannah, my second favorite band.”
“We’d better be first.” Hunter called.
“You are, Hunt!”
“And Papa Roach.” Mandy added, looking wistful. “I love them. I wish I could tell Jacoby how much his music has affected me. It has literally saved my life.”
“Well, looks like we have a plan then. The concert would get out at what… 10:30, 11:00? Six hours of driving, we’d still make it there around six or seven in the morning, if not less. We’d have plenty of time.” Smith mused.
“So, we’re going to see Kill Hannah?” Jessy asked, sitting up and bouncing a little. She hit her head on Davey’s empty bunk above her. “Ow…”
“And Papa Roach?” Mandy asked, just as eagerly.
“Yep.” Davey nodded.
The girls cheered and squealed happily. Adam laughed at them, his pout all but forgotten. Davey smiled and nuzzled Jade’s neck, while Jade just pulled Davey closer and kissed his forehead. Hunter did a weird dance (or as good as dance as one can do whilst lying down), happy to be able to be back in the crowd.
“I want a beer.” Smith announced. Everyone laughed again.
~DxHxJxP~
Jessy and Mandy decided that it was helpful to have friends with influence. For one, it meant that once again they were backstage. Only this time it wasn’t for their friends. This time, Jacoby Shaddix was about three foot from them, talking and laughing with Davey and Jade.
“Mandy, just go say hi.” Jessy urged.
“I think I’m going to be sick…”
“Come on, you went with me to go bug Jade.”
“But this is Jacoby.”
“I know, Manda, but how many other chances are you ever going to have to tell him how much he means to you if you don’t go right now? Go. I’m going over there and talking with Greg, okay?”
“No! You have to at least come with me.”
“Jade and Davey are over there.”
“Jess, please?”
Jessy smiled. “Okay. So does that mean you’re ready to go?”
“No, but let’s do it anyway.”
Jessy grinned and linked arms with Mandy, leading her over to Jacoby. When they reached them, she looped her other arm around Davey’s waist,
Davey grinned at them. “Hey, this is Jessy and Mandy, part of our crew. Sort of. Mostly, their just friends.”
Jacoby smiled at them, holding out a hand. Mandy shook it hesitantly. “Hey!” he greeted enthusiastically.
“H-Hi.”
Jessy suppressed a smile as she, too, shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Looking forward to the show?” Jacoby asked politely.
“Not as much as Mandy, but yes” Jessy answered.
Mandy blushed. “Your music has saved my life. It’s going to be incredible to watch you perform.”
Jacoby grinned. “I love to hear when my music helps someone.”
As Jacoby began what looked like a rather lengthy conversation with Mandy (who looked like Halloween had come early) about the impact of music on their lives, Jessy drifted away with Davey and Jade.
“Well… She looks happy.” Jade muttered.
Jessy smiled fondly over her shoulder at her best friend. “I don’t think ‘dream come true’ even begins to sum this up for Manda. Now, if you’d excuse me, there’s a guitarist I need to bug for a hug and wish happy birthday.”
Davey’s laughter followed her as she skipped over to Kill Hannah. Mat smiled at her as she approached.
“For a kid, you’ve got some pretty big connections.”
“First off, I’m not a kid.” Jessy said with a pout. “Second, yah, I guess I do. Jade says I was impossible to ignore no matter how much he tried.”
Mat laughed. “Like Jonny!”
Jessy giggled. “Yah, like the old whorey Jonny I miss so much.”
Mat burst into laughter and Jonny looked slightly offended and half proud.
“Okay, so I’m on a mission.” Jessy announced, side-stepping Mat to stand before Dan, who eyed her wearily. Jessy beamed at him. “Happy late birthday, Dan.”
Jessy threw her arms around Dan’s neck, shocking the hell out of the (much) older, (much) taller man. He hugged her back, almost awkwardly, and Jessy sighed happily.
Pulling back, Jessy yelled at her best friend, “Manda! Dan hug!”
Mandy looked over, smiled brightly, and muttered a quick “Be right back” to Jacoby before she came running (mostly figuratively speaking) for her own Dan hug. Jessy and Mandy had determined back in December that Dan Weise gave the best hugs EVER. Afterwards, Mandy calmly walked back over to Jacoby to continue their conversation.
Greg looked confused. Actually, they all did (but Mat almost always looked dazed and confused to a certain extent) and Dan just looked slightly horrified. Smith laughed, hugging Jessy from behind.
“They’re strange, but you gotta love them.” Hunter said, joining them. Jessy grinned proudly and Mat laughed.
“Okay, in all fairness, there are reasons why Manda and I love Dan hugs; in December, we waited around for him for over an hour to come out, freezing our asses off outside -me in a fucking skirt no less because I’m a moron -and being threatened with no more concerts by Manda’s mom because we were refusing to leave when he finally -finally -came outside and I pounced on him -”
“She’s good at pouncing.” Smith added.
“Shut up, Smiff. I pounced and huggled and we got pictures then Manda huggled and we went sighy.”
Dan smirked (after he took a second to interpret Jessy-speak). “I remember you… I signed your DVD, right? You said I made you warm.”
“Manda said that. I just sighed and agreed.”
Davey bounced over, interrupting them. “They’re going to start letting people in early because of the cold, so we better go get our places.”
Jessy nodded. “Kay, bye guys. Good luck tonight!” she called over her shoulder as she chased after Smith and Hunter as Davey went to drag Mandy kicking and screaming (okay, not really, but close) away from Jacoby.
Jade and Adam were already waiting on the other side of the barricade when Mandy and Jessy joined them, Jessy next to Jade and Mandy beside Adam. Davey followed, pulling on a bright pink hoodie and flipping the hood up. Hunter and Smith followed him, Smith carrying a handful of hats with his own fedora plopped on his head. He handed a baseball cap to Adam and a beanie to both Hunter and Jade (who fought over who’d get the black one and who’d get the blue… Jade won the black, but in all fairness, Jade fought like a girl… A very tough girl who liked to claw, bite, and bitch-slap).
“If our fans can’t recognize Jade in these, then these fans won’t.” Smith explained confidently. The three rolled eyes and pulled on hats, getting them situated in time for a flood of kids to start pouring into the venue.
Davey wrapped his arms around Jade’s wait, kissing his cheek and resting his chin on Jade’s shoulder. Smith and Hunter shifted and bounced, neither very good at patience of remaining still (Smith especially). Jessy and Mandy were oddly calm, like Adam who was leaning against the barricade in front of them.
Kill Hannah came on first and Jessy and Mandy screamed, both grinning smugly when they got a wink from Mat. Amongst the darkness of the unlit stage, the lights on their guitars shown bright, green lasers at the end of the necks panning the crowd.
With grinning faces, Mandy and Jessy once again put their shiny, new cameras to good use once again as they bounced, jumped, danced, screamed, yelled, sang, sighed, and gushed over the four guys on stage.
“They’re not bad.” Jade yelled into Jessy’s ear.
“Of course not! We have good taste!” Jessy yelled back.
“Well, duh, you like us!” Jade smirked.
The next song made Mandy scream. Jessy, having missed the announcement of what it was by talking to Jade, frowned in puzzlement. Jade’s mouth dropped open and he grinned. As Mat began to sing, the six surrounding Jessy began to sing along, screaming out lyrics (which, considering Davey was very good at projecting his voice, kinda hurt her ears, but she wasn’t complaining).
Last night a little dancer
Came dancin to my door
Last night a little angel
Came pumpin on my floor
She said "Come Baby, I've got liscence for love,
and if it expires, pray help from above."
Because in the midnight hour
she cut "More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell, she cut
"More, more, more!"
In the midnight hour, babe
"More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell, she cut
"More, more, more, more, more, more!"
She don't like slavery
She won't sit and beg
But when I'm tired and lonely
She sees me to my bed
"What set you free and brought you to me?"
"What set you free? I need you here by me."
Because in the midnight hour
she cut "More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell, she cut
"More, more, more!"
In the midnight hour, babe
"More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell
"More, more, more!"
He lives in his own heaven
Collects it to go from the Seven Eleven
Well he’s out all night to collect a fare
Just so long, just so long it don’t mess up his hair
I walk the ward with you
A thousand miles with you
I dried your tears of pain
A million times with you
I’d give you all, and have noting
For money to burn with you
I’d give you all, and have noting
Just a, just a, just a, just a
To have you here by me
Because In the midnight hour
She cut "More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell
She cut "More, more, more!"
In the midnight hour, babe,
she wants "More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell
She wants "More, more, more
more, more, more!"
Oo yeah, a little baby
She want more
More, more, more, more, more
Oo yeah, a little angel
She want more
More, more, more, more, more
Mat leaned out into the crowd and Davey grabbed his hand, helping to support him as did Smith. He seemed surprised by the sure grip on him, but he sang out across the crowd, smiling at all the kids straining to reach him. Jessy and Mandy were more intent on the nice view of Mat’s ass they had.
A few songs later, Kill Hannah ended their set, finishing off with Kennedy. Smith slipped away and seemed to reappear seconds later armed with water bottles for everyone.
Jessy rose her eyebrows. “Wow… You’re good.”
Smith beamed. “I know. I am the bestest.”
“Thanks for getting us to come.” Hunter said with a grin. “This is fun.”
Davey seemed thoughtful. “We should do a tour with them, if they’re interested. They’re very good and seem like nice boys.”
Jessy’s eyes lit up. “That’d be borderline best show ever.”
Davey laughed. They spent the rest of the time of the set change talking and laughing. Jessy looked longingly at the back of the venue. “I wanna get some merch…”
“Later, promise.” Davey assured her. Both Jessy and Mandy grinned happily.
The next band, It Dies Today, hit the stage. Not exactly music either Jessy or Mandy liked, but they could deal with it. Especially after Smith slipped them ear plugs. Smith was very good at what he did. It was amusing at any rate to watch the five guys surrounding them bounce and rock out, but nothing eventful happened really.
Their set ended quickly and it didn’t take long for the set change. Soon, Mandy and Jessy were screaming their heads off as Papa Roach came on, opening with Getting Away With Murder.
The girls quickly realized that it was helpful to have guy friends, as they served as a wall between them and the mosh pit Jacoby was encouraging. Smith grinned evily and yelled, “These little fuckers can’t mosh at all! I’m gonna show them how it’s done!”
He ducked away, quickly making his way to the middle of the mosh pit. Eyes sparkling, Davey hurried after him and Jade, Adam, and Hunter formed a tighter circle around the girls. Jessy and Mandy laughed and shook their heads, returning their focus to the gorgeous guy onstage and screaming out lyrics.
Davey and Smith didn’t return until right before the encore, both grinning broadly. Blood ran freely from Smith’s nose and Davey’s lip ring was slightly torn, his hair tussled, and his eye looking like it was going to be slightly bruised in the morning. Davey sighed happily and Jade kissed his cheek, chuckling fondly as Papa Roach returned to the stage.
After the show, they congregated at the back, loading up on merch before making a quick escape towards the bus. Mat and Jon were huddled in their van while Greg and Dan shoved the last few boxes into the back of their trailer. The guys caught sight of the other seven and waved as Greg and Dan climbed in to join the other two. Scrambling out, Mat ran across the snow covered parking lot (nearly falling on his ass, but hey, he was use to Chicago winters) and handed Mandy something.
“Thanks for the support… Hope we can see yah soon!” he exclaimed before turning and scurrying back to the warmth of the van.
Smith herded everyone onto the bus and got the driver (who had been hanging out watching TV) to start getting ready for the trip ahead of them. Collapsing onto the couch, Mandy unclenched her fist, staring in awe at the little bit of plastic that Mat had handed her.
“Jess… it’s a pick. A signed pick.”
Jessy scrambled over to her, jaw dropping at the sight of the bright orange pick in Mandy’s palm. “Woah… Awesome.”
Davey shook his head. “Hey, I got another present for you. One that’ll make you just as happy as those cameras around your neck or the pick in your hand.”
The girls turned their attention to him.
“Well, you know I had to work really hard to convince your parents to get you to come-”
“And virtually pay my dad.” Jessy muttered bitterly. Davey sent her a sympathetic look, but continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted.
“Well, part of that agreement was that you got tutors so you could finish your schooling. Well… I got the next best thing.”
Jade and Smith reappeared from the back of the bus (though neither Mandy nor Jessy even remembered seeing them go back there), each carrying a girl’s present.
“Laptops?” Mandy and Jessy exclaimed at once. Jade deposited Mandy’s in her lap, while Smith carefully got Jessy situated with her own.
“Customized laptops. Smith did most of it. He got everything situated so you could take online classes -and so that Mandy can take her freshman college courses and Jessy her senior classes online. Plus, they’re decked out with media programs and photo editing to go with your cameras. And they store tons of music.” Davey explained.
Jessy ran her hands over the sleek black laptop, opening it up. Smith had already turned it on and she giggled at the desktop, a close up picture of Davey and Jade making out. Smith beamed. “Thought you’d like it.”
“Love it. My pretty Javey computer.”
Davey laughed and watched as Mandy opened hers up. She grinned at her own desktop, a picture of her receiving her tattoo from Davey, though she couldn’t recall anyone taking pictures then.
“Love it.”
“Figured you would. Now… I suggest bed. We’ve got a long trip ahead of us.”
The girls put away their laptops and rushed for the bathroom, both pouting when Hunter beat them to it.
The girls looked at one another. Jessy sighed. “Two girls sharing a bathroom is bad enough. Davey and Jade sharing a bathroom is bad enough. Combine said girls with said couple and three other guys… This is going to be a long tour.”
Part Four
Bandom: AFI
Pairings: Javey, Smunter, Adam/OFC
Rating: NC-17
Summary: When Jade meets and befriends two fangirls after a concert, AFI gets more than they bargained for.
Disclaimer: I do not own AFI, this includes Jade, Davey, Adam, Hunter, or Smith. Nor, do I own Sick Of It All, The Dear and Departed, Kill Hannah, It Dies Today, or Papa Roach. Or pretty much anyone else mentioned in this. Except Jessy and Herbert. Rights to The Leaving Song belong to AFI and rights to Rebel Yell belong to Billy Idol. The cover done by Kill Hannah is amazing, I strongly suggest giving it a listen.
Part One Part Two
Wanda pulled up next to the huge bus and put the van into park. A frowning security guard walked up to them, shining his flashlight into the windows. Wanda rolled down the window, admitting the frigid cold air into the nice heat of the van, causing Jessy to yelp and scramble for her hoodie (Mandy laughing as she fell off of her chair).
“You can’t park here, ma’am.”
“My daughters know the band, its fine.”
The guard raised an eyebrow. “Right… They know the band… I’m going to have to ask you to move.”
Mandy rolled her eyes. “Call fucking Smith over here.”
The guard’s frown deepened, his whole manner screaming doubt, as he placed a walkie-talkie against his lips. “Yeah, Puget, this is Herbert… Yeah, we’ve got some girls claiming to know the band…” Jessy, now wrapped securely within her hoodie, snickered. Herbert?
“Well, leave them the fuck alone then, fuck head.” Came Smith’s static-filled voice.
Surprised, the man returned the walkie-talkie to his belt. “Fucking asshole.” He muttered as he walked away.
Giggling, Jessy scrambled out of the van and ran across to the bus. Mandy followed at a more leisurely pace, rolling her eyes in an annoyed manner when Jessy didn’t immediately open the door.
“What? Come on, Jess, its fucking freezing, get the door open.”
“How cool is it that we know the code to AFI’s tour bus?” Jessy laughed, punching in the numbers and swinging the door open, climbing up into the bus. Mandy shook her head, heaving herself up as well.
Hunter and Adam looked very bored from where they sat cross-legged on the couch, facing one another, playing rock-paper-scissors. Smith was bent over the booth-like table, muttering slightly as he went over… something tour manager-y. Davey and Jade were M.I.A., no doubt doing their makeup.
Jessy tackled the closest one -Adam -in a hug. “ADDY!” she squealed.
Adam laughed and adjusted his position so that he could hug her more comfortably, while Hunter bounced up and went to hug Mandy.
“Thank God! I’m so fucking bored.” Hunter whined. “Smiffy won’t let us leave.”
“We can leave as soon as the queens are done getting ready, so quit your bitching Hunter.” Smith grumbled. “Damnit, stupid fucking small print.”
Jessy, who’d collapsed next to Adam rather than sitting on top of him, looked over at him. “Aw, what’s wrong, Smiffers?”
“Stupid fucking place doesn’t give band members or staff free drinks.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “The only one that effects is you because neither Hunter nor I ever get drunk before or after a show.”
“Yeah, but damnit I deserve those damn free beers.”
Jessy laughed and shook her head. “Poor Smiff. I’d buy you some, but a) I’m broke and b) I’m sixteen and not of age to buy you any.”
“Yeah, well, it’s the thought that counts, right?” Smith muttered, offering Jessy a small smile.
Jessy beamed. “Exactly!”
“DAMNIT DAVEY!” a sudden exclamation was heard from the back. Jessy frowned. It sounded like Jade but since when did Jade yell at Davey?
Davey came running out of the bathroom. “Hide me, hide me, protect me!” he chanted. “Oh, hi, girls.” He gave each Mandy and Jessy very quick hugs before Jade was bursting from the bathroom and Davey squeaked, running further away from Jade.
“DAVE!” Jade roared.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Smith asked.
“He fucking did it again.”
“Did what?” Jessy asked, looking at Davey who smiled innocently and actually started whistling, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes.
“He cut off my hawk! It’s taken me fucking months to grow it out since the last time and he did. It. AGAIN!”
Jessy stood and walked around Jade, promptly beginning to giggle as she reached out and ruffled the short hairs at the back of Jade’s head.
“At least it looks good.”
Jade glared at her over his shoulder.
“Well, it’s not like you could blame me. It makes me sneeze.” Davey defended himself.
“It makes you sneeze?” Mandy repeated.
Jade rolled his eyes. “He’s gotten this thing for putting his nose against my neck while we sleep. And when he breathes in, he inhales some of my hair, which makes him sneeze. And, really, I think I’m the victim there considering you sneeze into MY hair.” He threw a glare at Davey.
“Oh, just kiss and make up.” Jessy muttered, rolling her eyes.
Jade glared at her, but Davey grinned. “Sounds like a wonderful idea.” He purred, beginning to walk towards Jade. Jessy stared at his facial expression, eyes growing distant. Smith cocked his head and waved his hand before her eyes, making her jump.
“What?”
“You had your look again.” Mandy helpfully supplied.
“What look?”
“The look you get when you’re thinking of the Javey sex.”
Jade broke eye contact with Davey to shoot Jessy a look somewhere between annoyance and amusement.
“Oh… That’s not a strictly Javey face… That’s just a slash face. I get it with every pairing… except, you know, the ones I hate.”
“Advey.”
Adam frowned. “What?” he asked, looking towards Mandy.
Davey shook his head wildly. “Don’t tell him. You’d scar him for life.”
“No! What is it?” Adam insisted.
Jessy started laughing. “Well, you know how Javey is Jade/Davey… Well, they’re not the only pairing imagined.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, there’s Hundam, which is you and Hunter, Jadam, which is you and Jade, Smadam, which is you and Smith, and Nildam, which is you and Nils. There’s a few other, more minor ones, too. Then there’s Junter, which is Jade and Hunter, and Hunvey, which is Hunter and Davey, and Smunter, which is Smith and Hunter. I’ve never found a Hunter/Nils one… I don’t think. Advey, my least favorite pairing ever -minus Harry and Ginny which should never, ever have existed -is you and Davey.”
Adam’s face had turned various different colors throughout Jessy’s little explanation, which greatly amused both Jessy and Mandy, the fangirls they were (Jessy more so than Mandy).
Smith’s attention, however, had been captured. “People put me with Adam?”
“People put you with everyone, Smiffy. There’s Smadam, Smunter, Smavey, and, the one that will completely freak everyone out, Smade.”
“Smade… I have a very bad feeling about that one.” Jade muttered.
“Jade/Smith.” Jessy smirked.
Jade shuddered. Davey crinkled his nose and wrapped his arms securely around Jade’s waist. “Ew.”
Smith cocked his head. “Well, if he wasn’t my brother, I’d say he’d definitely be fuckable, but I can safely say incest is not one of my kinks.”
“And what are your kinks, Smiffy?” Hunter teased.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Smith winked. He looked back at his watch and let out a very long, lengthy string of curses, ending with “We’re fucking late!”
There was a collective eye roll done by the other six. Smith’s idea of late was running five minutes early. Nevertheless, Smith began running around the bus, throwing coats, gloves, scarves, and hats at people without making sure the right people got the right gear. This only lead to more confusion as Davey rescued his gloves from Adam, his coat from Jade, and his hat from Jessy (who couldn’t figure out why Smith had crammed it on her head in the first place), meanwhile, Hunter and Adam had to switch coats and Jade and Hunter had to switch gloves. Finally, they were ready and they all ventured outside. Mandy and Jessy both shivered violently. Adam wrapped his arm around Mandy’s shoulder and dropped his hat onto her head while Jessy wrapped her arms around Smith’s waist, cuddling into him with a whimper.
They got inside successfully and without even the slightest bit of trouble. Everyone de-winterized themselves and Smith set off, making sure everything was properly set up. Adam ventured off to make sure his drum set was set up to his specifications so they could do a soundcheck while Hunter bribed some dude to go to the nearest Starbucks.
Davey, who was smiling way too brightly, wrapped an arm around the girls’ waists. “Did I tell you I finally determined what you jobs will be?”
Mandy shook her head, looking slightly apprehensive. “No…”
“Wait, I thought my job was to write awesome fanfics that don’t require disclaimers because they DO happen and I DO know you, which is just awesome, let me tell you.” Jessy whined. “I have to have another job?”
Davey rolled his eyes. “Yes.”
Jessy pouted, allowing Davey to grab her hand and lead her and Mandy towards his makeup case. He picked up two black cases next to the makeup case and studied them briefly before handing one to Mandy and one to Jessy.
Jessy stared at it in confusion. She ran her thumb over the white circlet of bunnies and smiled at the script in the center. Instead of the usual ‘AFI’, it read ‘JxN’. “Aw, Dave…”
“Don’t go squealing yet… You haven’t even opened it.”
Jessy opened it, watching Mandy crack hers open as well from the corner of her eye. She gasped and set the case down, pulling out the most magnificent digital camera she’d ever seen.
“Oh my God, it’s beautiful.” Mandy breathed, removing her own camera from her case. Jessy noticed there were slight differences between the two cameras and she looked to Davey for assistance.
“Smith picked them out, but from what he told me, Mandy’s specializes in taking precise pictures in different lightings. Meaning the light show won’t fuck up the pictures. Jessy’s is for taking clear shots of quick motion and it takes less than a second to snap a photo. They’ve both got awesome zooms, too.”
Jessy squealed and hugged Davey tightly, pulling away so that Mandy could hug him, too. The girls ran their hands over the cool, smooth, black metal. Davey took booklets from each of their cases and handed them each one. Instruction manuals. Jessy made a face and Davey just smiled at her.
“And, you get these as well.” Jade said, coming up behind them and slipping badges over their heads.
Jessy picked up the badge and looked at it. “Jessy Nelson, official AFI photographer”.
“Aw, Jadey!” she exclaimed and hugged him. Jade laughed and returned the hug.
“Okay, you’ve got a few hours to work out the gist of how they work before the show. Go have fun.” Davey commanded.
Jessy and Mandy grinned, quickly running off. They walked out from backstage and set down on the second stage. They carefully set down their cameras and cracked open the instruction manuals. They had a lot to learn in a few hours.
Jessy cracked up and Mandy elbowed her. “Quit distracting them.” Jessy giggled, showing Mandy the picture she’d just took. Mandy’s eyes widened and she snorted. “Is Smith picking his nose?”
The girls looked up at Smith, just in time to see him casually wipe his finger on Jade’s tee shirt. They both wrinkled their noses. “Ew.”
“Remind me not to hug Jade until he changes.” Jessy giggled. Mandy nodded her agreement. She peered at the camera window as she zoomed up on Davey.
“Jess, look… I can make out his tattoos from way back here… These cameras rock.”
Jessy nodded her agreement, turning the camera over in her hands. With a flash of light, the camera took a picture… Of Jessy’s hand.
“Oops…” Jessy muttered, trying to figure out how to delete the picture. Mandy rolled her eyes. “Hey… You don’t think Dave’ll fire me, do you?”
“Phft, no… Then he’d have to live with whiney Jessy and no one wants to do that.”
Jessy stuck her tongue out at her best friend. Mandy shook her head and Jessy laughed. She pulled her case into her lap and opened it up, curiously going through it.
“Fuck, Manda, he gave us both three cards… How many pictures does he expect us to take?”
Mandy laughed. “He knows us well.”
“Yeah, but one card holds 150 pictures… Each of us could take nearly five hundred pictures!”
Even Mandy had to admit that was going overboard.
“You’ll get use to it.” Hunter said, appearing out of nowhere and scaring the two.
“Holy shit, Hunt! Warning would be nice!” Jessy muttered under her breath.
“Sorry…” Hunter muttered, ducking his head in an adorable way that succeeded in both girls hugging him.
“One day, I’ll be immune to that.” Jessy promised.
“That’s what Davey said… And it still works on him.”
Mandy laughed. “We’ll get use to what, Hunter?”
“Huh? Oh! Davey spoiling you… You’ll get use to it. He spoils Smith, too. You haven’t even seen your other presents.”
“We get more?” Mandy gasped, jaw dropping.
“Well, yeah… But this one is actually practical.”
“What is it?” Jessy asked, bouncing in place.
“Jess, quit bouncing, you’re gonna end up breaking your camera.” Mandy said with a roll of her eyes.
“No, I -” Jessy cut off as she lunged forward, barely managing to catch her camera before it went tumbling over the side of the stage. “Nevermind…”
Mandy calmly reached over and plucked the camera from Jessy’s lap. “Read your manual. You can have it back when you promise to be careful.”
Jessy winced. “Sorry…”
Mandy shook her head and Hunter laughed. He hugged Jessy, whispering in her ear. “I’ll distract Mandy, you grab the camera and run.”
Jessy grinned and Mandy eyed them suspiciously. “What…?”
Hunter shrugged before suddenly leaping at Mandy and tickling her. Mandy cackled with laughter, trying to squirm away from Hunter. Jessy jumped off the stage and seized her camera, running away and laughing. Hunter released Mandy and took off after Jessy.
“Bitches, get back here!” Mandy yelled, putting her camera down and stalking off after the other two.
“SMITH! Save me!” Jessy yelled, jumping on Smith’s back. Smith stumbled, unprepared for the sudden added weight.
Smith twisted and swung Jessy around his side, causing her to shriek. He held her firmly in his arms. “Mandy, are you missing something?”
Jessy looked wildly from Smith to Mandy. “NO! Smiffers, no! AH! Davey, help!”
Davey was giggling, barely able to stand. Jade had an arm wrapped around his waist, supporting him and chuckling as well. Adam was still at his drums, rolling his eyes, but smiling.
Smith set Jessy down and held her in place while Mandy approached with a wicked grin. She tickled Jessy mercilessly, taking back the camera, and bopping Jessy gently on the head.
“Thanks, Smiffy.”
Jessy, out of breath from the tickle attack, glared at Smith and moved away. She crossed her arms and pouted. “Traitor.”
Smith shrugged.
Hunter wrapped an arm around Jessy’s shoulders. “That was mean, Smiff.”
Jessy poked him sharply in the ribs. “I didn’t see you helping me.”
“I was saving my own ass. I was hiding behind Adam. You’ve gotta choose your rescuers better.”
Jessy rolled her eyes. “Well, I thought he’d help me.”
Hunter patted her arm sympathetically. He looked around with a frown. “Hey, whatever happened to our Starbucks?”
Mandy and Jessy’s eyes met and they rolled them in unison.
“Jessy! Mandy!” Davey called. Jessy looked up from her manual, a small frown in place.
“Why the hell do they have to make the damn directions so difficult to understand?” she whined.
Davey shook his head. “Never mind that… Come here for a minute, you two.”
Mandy shrugged and they set down their books, walking over to Davey, who lead them backstage.
“We figured you’d want to meet the others we’re touring with.”
Jessy’s eyes lit up. “Okay!”
Backstage, everyone was in a huge group. Jade was talking to two dark haired individuals, Smith had a bass in his hands, talking to its owner (it wasn’t Hunter’s bass, so Jessy assumed it was Smith’s friend’s), Hunter and Adam were talking to three others, one of whom had a short, blond Mohawk.
“Hey!” Davey yelled, catching everyone’s attention. “Time to meet the new editions. Okay, so this is Jessy and Mandy, our dear friends who’ll be joining us for the rest of the tour. Okay, let’s see… We have the Dear & Departed boys… Dan and David are the two talking to Jade and Darren, Simon, and Joel are the ones trying to sleep in the corner over there… Hunter and Adam are talking to Pete, Lou, and Armand from Sick Of It All and Smithy there is bugging Rich to teach him another song since ‘Hunter rudely stole his last one’.”
Jessy giggled, not able to exactly help it. She caught Mandy’s eye and mouthed ‘Stolen song’. Mandy rolled her eyes, but giggled as well.
Davey raised an eyebrow. “Am I missing something?”
“Only slightly.”
Jessy and Mandy stood offstage, watching The Dear & Departed perform. Davey and Jade had vanished. No one knew where they were, but everyone knew what they were doing. Smith stood with them, anxiously bouncing on the balls of his feet. Jessy swore that he got more tense and nervous than any of the actual band members. Hunter was talking absently with Adam, trying to ignore the sound of all the screaming fans.
Jessy could see the crowd. She sighed, wanting to be out amongst it… though maybe not anywhere near the middle where there was a hellacious mosh pit already forming. It was just being out in the crowd, looking up at the band and screaming your heart out. She leant her head on Mandy’s shoulder and sighed again, smile quirking a bit when Mandy did the exact same thing.
Adam was suddenly behind them. He wrapped a loose arm around Mandy’s shoulders while Hunter did the same to Jessy.
“There’s always a part of you who wants to be in the crowd…” Hunter murmured. “It doesn’t go away.”
Adam nodded his agreement, looking out across the crowd.
“Davey’s not going to like them.” He said, eyes lingering upon the mosh pit and a few random crowd surfers.
“Davey’s dealt with worse crowds.” Smith said, suddenly at Hunter’s elbow.
“It does look particularly bad tonight, doesn’t it?” Davey said, joining them and causing Mandy and Jessy to jump at his sudden presence.
“Jesus, Davey, I thought you were fucking Jade.”
Davey smirked. “I did…” He frowned, looking out across the crowd. “He’s out in the crowd.”
Smith frowned. “Is that smart?”
Davey shrugged. “I’m not sure.” His worry was etched across his face, however. It was in the way his dark eyes narrowed as he tried to pick Jade out of the crowd, an impossible task, in the way he tugged at his lip ring, pulling the skin slightly.
Dear & Departed wrapped up their set and exited the stage. Davey hugged Dan and then David, clapping Simon on the back as the crew went into the set change. Davey spoke to Dan in a low whisper, his face anxious. After a while, Dan nodded before walking away to change shirts. He pulled off his STILL ILL hoodie and slipping on a green and white poke-a-dot shirt. Along with the rest of D&D, he left the backstage area in favor of going out to stand by the merch tables.
Davey returned to stand at Smith’s side, still not looking too relaxed. “Dan said he was going to look for Jade… I don’t like this crowd. If feels as if they’re waiting for a reason to riot. Like they’re not here for the music, just the adrenaline release. It’s not a crowd I want Jade in.”
Looking back out across the crowd, both Mandy and Jessy nodded their agreement. They’d both been to a lot of shows and this crowd scared them more than any other they’d witnessed.
As Sick Of It All’s set continued, Davey got more and more anxious. Smith was doing his best to pacify him, but wasn’t doing nearly as well as he would hope. When their set ended and Jade still wasn’t back, Smith joined Davey in his near hysterics.
“Oh my God, the crowd’s killed Jade! They’ve killed him and we don’t even know and we’re going to have to cancel the show and they’re going to riot and we’re going to have to make a run for it and Adam and Hunter and Jessy will all die in the chaos and they’re mutilated bodies will be found with Jade’s in the morning but not by us because Davey, Mandy, and I will have to run and hide in the mountains, living off beans and I HATE BEANS!” Smith wailed.
Jessy giggled, despite her own worries. “Relax, Smithers, I’m sure it’s not that bad… Look, Mandy and I have to go out there anyway to take pictures, so why don’t we go find Jade for you, okay?”
Smith nodded pitifully and Davey just paced anxiously. Jessy shook her head, seized Mandy’s wrist, and pulled her from backstage. They stuck to shadows, trying to sneak past the crowd, hoping no one would notice the two girls coming from backstage.
“Jess, I’m pretty sure we’re the only two in the world who try and sneak OUT of backstage.” Mandy said, voice barely loud enough for Jessy to hear. Jessy grinned, stopping to look out across the venue. They stood in silence, craning necks and standing on tiptoes. “THERE!” Mandy suddenly exclaimed. Jessy’s eyes zeroed in on where Mandy was pointing.
Jade was leaning against a wall. His hat was pulled low, his face ducked down low as he tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. Mandy and Jessy wound their way over to him, casually leaning on either side of him and hiding him further from the crowd.
“He worried?” Jade asked, a small smile forming.
Jessy nodded. “It goes so beyond that it’s not even funny.”
“Your brother’s joined him. He went all random on us. He rambled. About riots and death.” Mandy added, grinning.
Jade snorted. “Yeah, he does that. I guess we’d better head back.”
“It’d be a good idea.” Mandy nodded. The three linked arms and wound their way through the crowd.
Once backstage, Davey encircled Jade into his arms. “Butthead, you made me worry.”
“Sorry, Dave.”
“It’s fine… One day, someone will recognize you out there.”
“I know… And then I’ll have to stop. But it’s nice to be out amongst the crowd.”
Davey didn’t say anything in reply. He, along with Hunter and Adam, all had looks akin to longing. Jessy bit her lip, remembering Hunter’s earlier comment about always wanting to be in the crowd.
Finally, it was time for them to come on. Smith took each Jessy and Mandy by the hand and led them out onto the stage (he literally had to drag Mandy who hated being in front of large crowds) and helped them drop down at the front of the crowd.
Jessy and Mandy stepped closer to one another, hating the glares they got by the people surrounding them. They exchanged nervous glances and clutched their new cameras a little closer. Two security guards dropped down on either side of them and they both let out sighs of relief, shooting Smith, who was grinning at them, a thumbs-up of thanks.
The lights dimmed, the fog came on, and adrenaline hit the teenagers. It suddenly wasn’t Davey and Jade and Hunter and Adam; it was AFI. It was their favorite band; it was their idols; it was the creators of the music that had so wonderfully ensnared them. They screamed without thinking, grinning widely up at Davey as he walked on stage.
“This is what I brought you, this you can keep,” he sang, eyes falling upon them briefly. “This is what I brought you, may forget me. I promised you my heart, just promise to sing. Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.”
The others joined him and, snapping to their senses, Jessy and Mandy started taking pictures. They may not be able to reach that 500-picture limit, but damn it they were going to try.
Jessy and Mandy quickly got lost in the music and the performance. Jessy had to wipe away tears after Silver and Cold and sniffled a bit during This Time Imperfect.
The band left the stage and the lights shut almost completely off. Jessy blinked and Mandy quickly adjusted her lighting control. Davey and Jade walked back on and stepped onto the podium before the girls. They stared into one another’s eyes and Jade started playing. Davey’s sweet voice filled the air and Jessy felt tears prickle again.
Walked away, heard them say
"Poison hearts will never change, walk away again"
Turned away in disgrace
Felt the chill upon my face cooling from within
It's hard to notice gleaming from the sky
When you're staring at the cracks
It's hard to notice what is passing by with eyes lowered
You... walked away, heard them say
"Poisoned hearts will never change, walk away again"
All the cracks they lead right to me
And all the cracks will crawl right through me
All the cracks, they lead right to me
And all the cracks will crawl right through me, and I fell apart
As I... walked away, heard them say
"Poisoned hearts will never change"
Walked away again
Turned away in disgrace
Felt the chill upon my face cooling from within
For a moment, Davey and Jade just stood there, staring at one another. Then, as one, they turned and walked away, in opposite directions. Both looking like their hearts were breaking, both looking like they were dying with each step they took.
Tears slid down Jessy’s cheeks. They came back on with Hunter and Adam and launched into another song, and Jessy wiped away the tears, but her heart still felt like it had broken a little.
Jessy and Mandy joined in the chant for the encore, just for fun. The opening cords for God Called In Sick Today rang and Jessy and Mandy exchanged looks. Neither held confidence in this crowd and had been relatively relieved when Davey hadn’t done his head-walk. Now, as he reached out a hand to them, they gripped it tightly and helped anchor him as best they could. He sang out across the crowd, walking a bit further into it, but never letting go of the grip he held on Jessy and Mandy’s hands.
Davey crawled back onto the stage and they immediately launched into Miss Murder. The girls bounced and sang along. They grinned at one another when Davey walked Jade backwards and stole a kiss on the cheek.
After the show had ended, the girls climbed back up on stage and rushed off backstage. Jessy threw her arms around Davey, who she ran into first. “Don’t leave Jade.” She mumbled into his shirt, crying slightly again.
“What are you talking about, dear?”
“It’s just… The Leaving Song… You looked so heart broken and you just walked away from one another and…”
“Jessy, that’s what the song is about. I have no plans of ever leaving Jade. I love him.”
“I-I know, but…”
Davey hugged her close. Shaking his head, Jade joined them and several seconds later, Jessy pulled away.
“Okay, I feel better.”
“PIZZA!” Smith called out.
“I call pepperoni!” Jessy called out, running off.
“I’m beginning to seriously think she’s bi-polar.” Jade muttered, taking Davey’s hand and walking after her.
Mandy, arms linked with Hunter and Adam, laughed and shook her head. Jessy just took a while to get use to. And did switch moods rather quickly and unexpectedly.
“You’re kidding me? Never?” Jessy exclaimed, shocked.
“Never.” David confirmed with a bob of his head.
“Oh, you poor, poor boy… Come on.”
“Wha…?”
Jessy just grabbed David by the hand and began dragging him towards where all the coats were piled up. As she walked past him, she grabbed Dan, too, surprising the hell out of him. When they reached the coats, she turned towards them with a rather serious expression.
“Bundle up. We are so having a snowball fight.”
David looked at her for a moment before shaking his head and starting to dig for his coat. Dan chuckled before joining him as Jessy set off to gather everyone else.
Twenty-five minutes later, all of the Dear & Departed as well as Jessy and Mandy were outside. The girls showed the guys how to build a fort and then it was an all out war between the two sides (which, really, was incredibly unfair being as there were five guys against two girls with terribly aim).
Jessy ducked as a snowball came dangerously close to hitting her face and groaned as one hit her in the shoulder instead. Mandy was doing much better dodging than her, which Jessy took a second to pout over before scooping up some snow and packing it together. Her retaliation flew a good foot from her intended target, Simon. It hit Joel in the knee, however, so it wasn’t a total failure.
Suddenly, something that was most definitely not a snowball whizzed by her ear. Jessy yelped and stumbled, falling back onto her butt with a grunt. “What the hell?” she mumbled.
Looking over her shoulder, Jessy was greeted by what was quite possibly the most horrifying sight she’d ever encountered. Smith Puget armed with bottle rockets.
Squeaking, Jessy scurried around to the other side of her fort. “Attack of the insane pyro Smith!” she yelled as a second bottle rocket went off.
The next few minutes were ones of pure chaos as everyone ran in terror from Smith and his semi-dangerous artillery.
“Holy fuck! Smith, you’re on fire!”
Jessy peered around her fort. David was darting around Smith, who was very much on fire, trying to put out the flames. Smith didn’t seem to care that he was on fire and just laughed manically.
Sometimes, Jessy thought Smith really was insane.
“Okay, to be fair, I think that we should all chose beds again. Since we have two new people staying here and all.” Davey announced.
Hunter groaned, Smith pouted, and Adam shook his head wildly, “No, I like my bed.”
Davey shrugged. “Deal with it. Everyone stand up… Now, go find a bed!”
They all tore off. Jade tried doing a ninja-roll into the bed and hit his foot. He yelped out in pain, but had successfully claimed the bed for himself (and Davey). Smith jumped up and pulled himself into a top bunk. “I claim this bunk in the name of Sir Smith!”
Hunter leapt at a lower bunk and successfully claimed a lower bunk. Adam tried for the bunk beneath Smith, but was beat by Mandy.
“No! I want this one! Its mine!”
Mandy snorted. “Oh my God, Addy just whined.”
Jessy giggled as she claimed the lower bunk across from Mandy. “Aw, Addy, that’s so cute.”
Davey threw his duffle on the bunk above Jessy’s. “Oh, quit teasing him… Let him act two.”
“I am not acting two.” Adam pouted, stomping his foot. He looked at his foot in shock. “Um… Anyway, it’s my bunk, Mandy, let me have it.”
“I am not sleeping in a top bunk, Adam, deal with it.”
“You can have Jessy’s -”
“No, she can’t! I toss and turn. I’d fall out of bed!” Jessy protested.
“Fine, Hunter -”
“Sorry, Addy, you know I like bottom bunks.”
“AH! Jade…”
“Does anyone REALLY want to sleep under Davey and me?”
There was a chorus of ‘no’s (except Jessy who shifted without saying anything. Mandy threw a shoe at her). Adam pouted and climbed up onto the bed above Jade. “Well, I don’t particularly want to sleep above you, either.”
Davey grinned and tackled Jade back into their bunk. He cuddled up against him and sighed.
“So… What’s the agenda for tomorrow, Smiffy?”
“We travel. We have tomorrow off to have fun with the girls and get them situated. The venue is about six hours away.” Smith answered.
“You know… There’s a concert here tomorrow night. We could stay for it and still make it to your show on time.” Jessy said, supporting her head on one hand. “Hunter said he’d like to be in the crowd again.”
Davey looked thoughtful. “That’s not a bad idea… Who’s playing?”
Jessy grinned. “Kill Hannah, my second favorite band.”
“We’d better be first.” Hunter called.
“You are, Hunt!”
“And Papa Roach.” Mandy added, looking wistful. “I love them. I wish I could tell Jacoby how much his music has affected me. It has literally saved my life.”
“Well, looks like we have a plan then. The concert would get out at what… 10:30, 11:00? Six hours of driving, we’d still make it there around six or seven in the morning, if not less. We’d have plenty of time.” Smith mused.
“So, we’re going to see Kill Hannah?” Jessy asked, sitting up and bouncing a little. She hit her head on Davey’s empty bunk above her. “Ow…”
“And Papa Roach?” Mandy asked, just as eagerly.
“Yep.” Davey nodded.
The girls cheered and squealed happily. Adam laughed at them, his pout all but forgotten. Davey smiled and nuzzled Jade’s neck, while Jade just pulled Davey closer and kissed his forehead. Hunter did a weird dance (or as good as dance as one can do whilst lying down), happy to be able to be back in the crowd.
“I want a beer.” Smith announced. Everyone laughed again.
~DxHxJxP~
Jessy and Mandy decided that it was helpful to have friends with influence. For one, it meant that once again they were backstage. Only this time it wasn’t for their friends. This time, Jacoby Shaddix was about three foot from them, talking and laughing with Davey and Jade.
“Mandy, just go say hi.” Jessy urged.
“I think I’m going to be sick…”
“Come on, you went with me to go bug Jade.”
“But this is Jacoby.”
“I know, Manda, but how many other chances are you ever going to have to tell him how much he means to you if you don’t go right now? Go. I’m going over there and talking with Greg, okay?”
“No! You have to at least come with me.”
“Jade and Davey are over there.”
“Jess, please?”
Jessy smiled. “Okay. So does that mean you’re ready to go?”
“No, but let’s do it anyway.”
Jessy grinned and linked arms with Mandy, leading her over to Jacoby. When they reached them, she looped her other arm around Davey’s waist,
Davey grinned at them. “Hey, this is Jessy and Mandy, part of our crew. Sort of. Mostly, their just friends.”
Jacoby smiled at them, holding out a hand. Mandy shook it hesitantly. “Hey!” he greeted enthusiastically.
“H-Hi.”
Jessy suppressed a smile as she, too, shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Looking forward to the show?” Jacoby asked politely.
“Not as much as Mandy, but yes” Jessy answered.
Mandy blushed. “Your music has saved my life. It’s going to be incredible to watch you perform.”
Jacoby grinned. “I love to hear when my music helps someone.”
As Jacoby began what looked like a rather lengthy conversation with Mandy (who looked like Halloween had come early) about the impact of music on their lives, Jessy drifted away with Davey and Jade.
“Well… She looks happy.” Jade muttered.
Jessy smiled fondly over her shoulder at her best friend. “I don’t think ‘dream come true’ even begins to sum this up for Manda. Now, if you’d excuse me, there’s a guitarist I need to bug for a hug and wish happy birthday.”
Davey’s laughter followed her as she skipped over to Kill Hannah. Mat smiled at her as she approached.
“For a kid, you’ve got some pretty big connections.”
“First off, I’m not a kid.” Jessy said with a pout. “Second, yah, I guess I do. Jade says I was impossible to ignore no matter how much he tried.”
Mat laughed. “Like Jonny!”
Jessy giggled. “Yah, like the old whorey Jonny I miss so much.”
Mat burst into laughter and Jonny looked slightly offended and half proud.
“Okay, so I’m on a mission.” Jessy announced, side-stepping Mat to stand before Dan, who eyed her wearily. Jessy beamed at him. “Happy late birthday, Dan.”
Jessy threw her arms around Dan’s neck, shocking the hell out of the (much) older, (much) taller man. He hugged her back, almost awkwardly, and Jessy sighed happily.
Pulling back, Jessy yelled at her best friend, “Manda! Dan hug!”
Mandy looked over, smiled brightly, and muttered a quick “Be right back” to Jacoby before she came running (mostly figuratively speaking) for her own Dan hug. Jessy and Mandy had determined back in December that Dan Weise gave the best hugs EVER. Afterwards, Mandy calmly walked back over to Jacoby to continue their conversation.
Greg looked confused. Actually, they all did (but Mat almost always looked dazed and confused to a certain extent) and Dan just looked slightly horrified. Smith laughed, hugging Jessy from behind.
“They’re strange, but you gotta love them.” Hunter said, joining them. Jessy grinned proudly and Mat laughed.
“Okay, in all fairness, there are reasons why Manda and I love Dan hugs; in December, we waited around for him for over an hour to come out, freezing our asses off outside -me in a fucking skirt no less because I’m a moron -and being threatened with no more concerts by Manda’s mom because we were refusing to leave when he finally -finally -came outside and I pounced on him -”
“She’s good at pouncing.” Smith added.
“Shut up, Smiff. I pounced and huggled and we got pictures then Manda huggled and we went sighy.”
Dan smirked (after he took a second to interpret Jessy-speak). “I remember you… I signed your DVD, right? You said I made you warm.”
“Manda said that. I just sighed and agreed.”
Davey bounced over, interrupting them. “They’re going to start letting people in early because of the cold, so we better go get our places.”
Jessy nodded. “Kay, bye guys. Good luck tonight!” she called over her shoulder as she chased after Smith and Hunter as Davey went to drag Mandy kicking and screaming (okay, not really, but close) away from Jacoby.
Jade and Adam were already waiting on the other side of the barricade when Mandy and Jessy joined them, Jessy next to Jade and Mandy beside Adam. Davey followed, pulling on a bright pink hoodie and flipping the hood up. Hunter and Smith followed him, Smith carrying a handful of hats with his own fedora plopped on his head. He handed a baseball cap to Adam and a beanie to both Hunter and Jade (who fought over who’d get the black one and who’d get the blue… Jade won the black, but in all fairness, Jade fought like a girl… A very tough girl who liked to claw, bite, and bitch-slap).
“If our fans can’t recognize Jade in these, then these fans won’t.” Smith explained confidently. The three rolled eyes and pulled on hats, getting them situated in time for a flood of kids to start pouring into the venue.
Davey wrapped his arms around Jade’s wait, kissing his cheek and resting his chin on Jade’s shoulder. Smith and Hunter shifted and bounced, neither very good at patience of remaining still (Smith especially). Jessy and Mandy were oddly calm, like Adam who was leaning against the barricade in front of them.
Kill Hannah came on first and Jessy and Mandy screamed, both grinning smugly when they got a wink from Mat. Amongst the darkness of the unlit stage, the lights on their guitars shown bright, green lasers at the end of the necks panning the crowd.
With grinning faces, Mandy and Jessy once again put their shiny, new cameras to good use once again as they bounced, jumped, danced, screamed, yelled, sang, sighed, and gushed over the four guys on stage.
“They’re not bad.” Jade yelled into Jessy’s ear.
“Of course not! We have good taste!” Jessy yelled back.
“Well, duh, you like us!” Jade smirked.
The next song made Mandy scream. Jessy, having missed the announcement of what it was by talking to Jade, frowned in puzzlement. Jade’s mouth dropped open and he grinned. As Mat began to sing, the six surrounding Jessy began to sing along, screaming out lyrics (which, considering Davey was very good at projecting his voice, kinda hurt her ears, but she wasn’t complaining).
Last night a little dancer
Came dancin to my door
Last night a little angel
Came pumpin on my floor
She said "Come Baby, I've got liscence for love,
and if it expires, pray help from above."
Because in the midnight hour
she cut "More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell, she cut
"More, more, more!"
In the midnight hour, babe
"More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell, she cut
"More, more, more, more, more, more!"
She don't like slavery
She won't sit and beg
But when I'm tired and lonely
She sees me to my bed
"What set you free and brought you to me?"
"What set you free? I need you here by me."
Because in the midnight hour
she cut "More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell, she cut
"More, more, more!"
In the midnight hour, babe
"More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell
"More, more, more!"
He lives in his own heaven
Collects it to go from the Seven Eleven
Well he’s out all night to collect a fare
Just so long, just so long it don’t mess up his hair
I walk the ward with you
A thousand miles with you
I dried your tears of pain
A million times with you
I’d give you all, and have noting
For money to burn with you
I’d give you all, and have noting
Just a, just a, just a, just a
To have you here by me
Because In the midnight hour
She cut "More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell
She cut "More, more, more!"
In the midnight hour, babe,
she wants "More, more, more!"
With a rebel yell
She wants "More, more, more
more, more, more!"
Oo yeah, a little baby
She want more
More, more, more, more, more
Oo yeah, a little angel
She want more
More, more, more, more, more
Mat leaned out into the crowd and Davey grabbed his hand, helping to support him as did Smith. He seemed surprised by the sure grip on him, but he sang out across the crowd, smiling at all the kids straining to reach him. Jessy and Mandy were more intent on the nice view of Mat’s ass they had.
A few songs later, Kill Hannah ended their set, finishing off with Kennedy. Smith slipped away and seemed to reappear seconds later armed with water bottles for everyone.
Jessy rose her eyebrows. “Wow… You’re good.”
Smith beamed. “I know. I am the bestest.”
“Thanks for getting us to come.” Hunter said with a grin. “This is fun.”
Davey seemed thoughtful. “We should do a tour with them, if they’re interested. They’re very good and seem like nice boys.”
Jessy’s eyes lit up. “That’d be borderline best show ever.”
Davey laughed. They spent the rest of the time of the set change talking and laughing. Jessy looked longingly at the back of the venue. “I wanna get some merch…”
“Later, promise.” Davey assured her. Both Jessy and Mandy grinned happily.
The next band, It Dies Today, hit the stage. Not exactly music either Jessy or Mandy liked, but they could deal with it. Especially after Smith slipped them ear plugs. Smith was very good at what he did. It was amusing at any rate to watch the five guys surrounding them bounce and rock out, but nothing eventful happened really.
Their set ended quickly and it didn’t take long for the set change. Soon, Mandy and Jessy were screaming their heads off as Papa Roach came on, opening with Getting Away With Murder.
The girls quickly realized that it was helpful to have guy friends, as they served as a wall between them and the mosh pit Jacoby was encouraging. Smith grinned evily and yelled, “These little fuckers can’t mosh at all! I’m gonna show them how it’s done!”
He ducked away, quickly making his way to the middle of the mosh pit. Eyes sparkling, Davey hurried after him and Jade, Adam, and Hunter formed a tighter circle around the girls. Jessy and Mandy laughed and shook their heads, returning their focus to the gorgeous guy onstage and screaming out lyrics.
Davey and Smith didn’t return until right before the encore, both grinning broadly. Blood ran freely from Smith’s nose and Davey’s lip ring was slightly torn, his hair tussled, and his eye looking like it was going to be slightly bruised in the morning. Davey sighed happily and Jade kissed his cheek, chuckling fondly as Papa Roach returned to the stage.
After the show, they congregated at the back, loading up on merch before making a quick escape towards the bus. Mat and Jon were huddled in their van while Greg and Dan shoved the last few boxes into the back of their trailer. The guys caught sight of the other seven and waved as Greg and Dan climbed in to join the other two. Scrambling out, Mat ran across the snow covered parking lot (nearly falling on his ass, but hey, he was use to Chicago winters) and handed Mandy something.
“Thanks for the support… Hope we can see yah soon!” he exclaimed before turning and scurrying back to the warmth of the van.
Smith herded everyone onto the bus and got the driver (who had been hanging out watching TV) to start getting ready for the trip ahead of them. Collapsing onto the couch, Mandy unclenched her fist, staring in awe at the little bit of plastic that Mat had handed her.
“Jess… it’s a pick. A signed pick.”
Jessy scrambled over to her, jaw dropping at the sight of the bright orange pick in Mandy’s palm. “Woah… Awesome.”
Davey shook his head. “Hey, I got another present for you. One that’ll make you just as happy as those cameras around your neck or the pick in your hand.”
The girls turned their attention to him.
“Well, you know I had to work really hard to convince your parents to get you to come-”
“And virtually pay my dad.” Jessy muttered bitterly. Davey sent her a sympathetic look, but continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted.
“Well, part of that agreement was that you got tutors so you could finish your schooling. Well… I got the next best thing.”
Jade and Smith reappeared from the back of the bus (though neither Mandy nor Jessy even remembered seeing them go back there), each carrying a girl’s present.
“Laptops?” Mandy and Jessy exclaimed at once. Jade deposited Mandy’s in her lap, while Smith carefully got Jessy situated with her own.
“Customized laptops. Smith did most of it. He got everything situated so you could take online classes -and so that Mandy can take her freshman college courses and Jessy her senior classes online. Plus, they’re decked out with media programs and photo editing to go with your cameras. And they store tons of music.” Davey explained.
Jessy ran her hands over the sleek black laptop, opening it up. Smith had already turned it on and she giggled at the desktop, a close up picture of Davey and Jade making out. Smith beamed. “Thought you’d like it.”
“Love it. My pretty Javey computer.”
Davey laughed and watched as Mandy opened hers up. She grinned at her own desktop, a picture of her receiving her tattoo from Davey, though she couldn’t recall anyone taking pictures then.
“Love it.”
“Figured you would. Now… I suggest bed. We’ve got a long trip ahead of us.”
The girls put away their laptops and rushed for the bathroom, both pouting when Hunter beat them to it.
The girls looked at one another. Jessy sighed. “Two girls sharing a bathroom is bad enough. Davey and Jade sharing a bathroom is bad enough. Combine said girls with said couple and three other guys… This is going to be a long tour.”
Part Four