Imagine Me and You

Ylana ran a hand through her long black hair, the silver streaks shining in the sunlight as she stood on the side of the stage and looked out at the crowd. They were at some music festival in the Midwest here her band, Attempted Suicide, were playing along with a bunch of other bands. Ylana wasn’t nervous about performing-she was old hat at this now and had been on stage since she was fourteen, but four years and one record later-she had made it to the big time. Her red dress, with the oversized puffy skirt and tight top, was making her hot, but she would suck it up.

The fans loved their look and sound-kind of a New Year’s Day mixed with Black Veil Brides and oh God…Black Veil Brides were performing that same day and that’s what was making her feel so nervous. She was a fan, but more than that she was a friend-she had been best friends with Jinxx since they were young-and they had never seen her band perform before. Ylana had started the band after Jinxx had left to go out to LA and make it big, but when he left he had taken a part of her with him. She missed him and Ylana knew that she needed to make it just as big so that they could see one another again.

Would he come watch her? They had said hello at the catering tent earlier that day and it was strange because they had both drifted into the same relationship they’d had as before. He still called her Laynie and she still picked at him about his overly teased hair and penchant for wearing eyeliner. Even still, she knew that she still held a flame for him and Ylana wouldn’t be shocked if he felt the same. They had parted on good terms, but it had still been sad. Finally the call to get on stage went out and Ylana took in a deep breath as she ran out with her guitarist and addressed the crowd.

The kids were going wild with every song they played and just as they got to the middle of their set, Ylana looked to her left and felt her jaw drop. He was there, his black hair teased slightly and he was wearing a black vest with not shirt and black pants. The other guys were there, Ashley, Jake, CC and Andy-there was a girl with Andy, but Ylana had never met her before. As their second to last song came to a finish, Ylana smiled as she nodded to Brent their bassist-it was time for her favorite song which was actually a cover, but it was her favorite all the same.

“Guys! This is going to be our last song of the day and it’s a personal favorite of mine! When I was younger, I felt something for someone and sadly it didn’t work out-this song helped me through I know it’ll help one of you some day. This is Lithium by Evanescence!” The guitars started and Ylana closed her eyes, but when she opened them she noticed that Jinxx was looking right at her.

Darling, I forgive you... After all,
Anything is better than to be alone.
And in the end I guess I had to fall.
Always find my place among the ashes.

I can't hold on to me,
Wonder what's wrong with me.

She sang for all she was worth and as the guitars sounded in her ears and Ylana looked over towards Jinxx, she smirked. He looked amazed-she had always been a good singer, but there was something about this song that just brought her talents out. Maybe it was the pain behind the lyrics or the way everything meshed together-either way it was amazing and she sounded amazing. Jinxx watched as the girl who he had known for most of his life ran around on stage and played it up to the crowd. He crossed his arms over his chest and Jinxx couldn’t believe that this was his little Laynie-she had grown up so much over the past four years.

They had kept in touch-mostly through their parents- and Jinxx had invited Laynie to come to their shows whenever they were in his home town area, but she never came. He knew she was angry with him-he had left her and at the worst time. They had been trying something, being together in a way that was more intimate than just being friends and he had decided that he needed to get out to LA. That was where he had met the guys and Andy was already trying to get the band started-Jinxx had been thinking of going back home to Laynie, but he needed to play music. She never forgave him and as he caught her deep blue eyes staring at him, Jinxx knew that she probably never would.

“Thank you guys so fucking much! We are Attempted Suicide and we’ll catch you again next year!” She called into the mic and Jinxx felt his heart beat speed up as Laynie walked off of the stage and moved past him. She smiled at him and Jinxx caught Andy’s eye-his friend seemed to be saying ‘go after her’ and that is exactly what Jinxx did.

“Laynie! Laynie wait up!” He called after the girl and finally she stopped, her long black hair whipping around as she turned to face him and her deep blue eyes seemed angry.

“Enjoy the show?” She asked, cocking one perfectly lined eyebrow and Jinxx only smiled as he placed a hand on her arm. Soon enough he was bringing her against his bare chest and Ylana felt her heart stop. How often had she dreamed of this moment between them? How long had she waited for this to happen?

“I did…you were amazing out there.” Jinxx said and Laynie only smiled as she took a towel from Brent as he passed and wiped the sweat from her forehead. What was Jinxx doing? Wasn’t he supposed to be getting ready to get on stage right now?

“Thanks…took you long enough to remember just how amazing I can be.” Her voice was like ice and as Laynie walked off towards the very back stage area, Jinxx felt his heart begin to ache. He had never meant to hurt her, but he’d had a dream and he needed to follow it.

“Look Laynie…can’t we just move on from this?” He asked as the girl in front of him only sighed and turned to face him fully. She looked so pretty, her eyes lined lightly in eyeliner and her cherry red lips were pulled into the smartass smirk that she’d had since she was five years old.

“I dunno…” She said as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at her once best friend. He had wounded her so much, but looking at him now, seeing those light blue eyes of his…Ylana didn’t know if she could resist him.

“Let me show you…” Jinxx said, his low voice filled with slight hesitation and Laynie felt her eyes grow wide as he walked towards her.

Jinxx placed a calloused hand on either side of her face and soon enough Laynie felt her lips being captured by his own. He held her then, one hand snaking down to press against the small of her back and Laynie allowed him to have control over her. His kiss was better than she remembered-soft and yet there was a force there…a longing. No one had ever been able to kiss her the way Jinxx did-when they kissed it felt like they were the only two people in the world and that was something that Laynie found she had missed more than anything.

She felt so good next to him and Jinxx felt like maybe finally something was going right in his life. He’d had girls-all of the guys had, but none of them made him feel the way that Laynie did. He had always been her protector, even when they were kids and some of the other boys pushed her in the mud-Jinxx had been there, fighting them and getting a bloody nose for his trouble. High school had been rough for the both of them, but then he decided he needed a change and soon enough Jinxx had moved on. If he could have he would’ve taken Laynie with him, but she was still a minor and he couldn’t take her from her family. Now they were both adults with their own bands and he knew…this could be their chance. As Jinxx pulled out of the kiss and opened his eyes slowly, he noticed that Laynie had tears lining the rims of her deep blue orbs.

“L-Laynie? Are you okay?” He asked, his voice cracking from nerves and she only smirked as she placed a hand on his cheek and smiled up at him.

“Yeah, yeah I’m okay.” She said quietly and Jinxx only smiled as he reached for her hand and they both began to walk back towards the stage.

“I really can’t believe that you’re here. I saw that your band was going to be at this festival and that’s all I could talk about…the guys were kind of getting tired of hearing about you.” He laughed as Jinxx ran his free hand through his hair and Laynie only smiled at him.

“I know-my band felt the same. I guess we never forgot one another…we just forgot how much we meant to one another.” She said and Jinxx nodded as he reached for his guitar and pulled the strap over his head.

“You mean the world to me Laynie…you always have.” He said as he pressed his lips to hers once again and Laynie felt like her heart was going to beat right out of her chest.

“Get out on that stage Ferguson before they fire you…” She laughed as they broke apart and Jinxx only smiled at her as Laynie pushed his shoulder gently.

“Wait for me?” He asked before stepping out onto the stage and Laynie only nodded as he smiled and ran out to a screaming crowd.

She would wait for him…she always had and she always would…

Notes