Finding Grace

Oh my god that was Crown the Empire, I thought as I sprinted toward stage seven. I huffed, staggering up the steps to where Chris waited.
"Sorry!" I wheezed as I reached him, leaning down to press my hands against my knees as I tried to catch my breath. "We were like way over there."
"It's cool, you made it in time," he told me as I came to stand beside him. "I like your hair, by the way."
I grinned. "I can't imagine why."
He chuckled. "We were gonna go out and I'll announce the song, then you come out. It'll surprise the hell out of them."
"It will," I agreed, tucking my hair behind my ear.
"So, you're dating Biersack right?" Ryan asked, and I nodded.
"I heard he was almost late for his own show earlier," Josh yawned as he stretched. "His guys were looking everywhere for him."
I tried to suppress my grin; oops.
"At least he made it," I said after a moment. He was gonna get me back for that, I'm sure.
"We're up," Chris stepped forward, and I stepped from the way as he and his guys took the stage.
"Hey all you mothafuckas!" he said as he took the mic. "We gotta surprise for you!"
The crowd screamed.
"You guys wanna rare listen to Rip Their Hearts Out?"
Louder screaming commenced.
Chris turned and offered his hand, and I stepped across the stage to him, taking it.
Even more excited screaming.
Okay, here we go, I thought as Chris started.

"I can hear you in the shadows,
Just waiting to appear,
I can feel you in my heart,
Just rip it out, my dear!"

I sang, ending on a scream.
The song ended, and I gave a quick bow, shooting everyone a wave as I trotted off the stage and into the back, feeling sweat build on my skin from the hot sun.
I really needed some sun block.
I wandered back, wondering if I was brave enough to actually talk to the guys of Crown the Empire if they were still there. I sighed, stopping to answer a text from Clarke, telling him I was done.
"Yoo, EFG!"
I raised my head. Holy hell. All Time Low? Could I just fall over now?
"Hey guys," I greeted, stowing my phone in my back pocket.
"How'd you get over here so quick?" Alex asked. "You were at three like twenty minutes ago."
"I'm short, I can get through the crowds quicker," I shrugged, shielding my eyes from the sun as I talked to him and Jack. They were so cool!
"Yeah, the video you did with the trampoline, it actually made me want to buy one. But the guys won't let me put it on the bus," Jack complained.
"Well I don't see why! You could totally jump on it as the bus is going, you'd have way more fun!"
"See, she agrees," he looked accusingly at Alex, who rolled his eyes..
"We're still not getting a trampoline. Not even a small one."
I laughed, listening to them grouch back and forth. I glanced at my phone, seeing I had to get across the lot to meet my guys.
"Hey, it was so cool meeting you guys! But I gotta get to stage in like ten minutes!" I told them.
"Cool! Us too! Wanna ride?" Jack asked, and I just looked at him.
"What?"
Alex pinched him.
"A piggy back ride! Come on, you're little, and we'll get there so much faster!"
"Is he serious?" I asked Alex.
"As serious as the relationship with your boyfriend is," he sighed.
"Boyfriend?" Jack asked, scratching the back of his head.
"Uh, yeah. Andy. Black Veil Brides." I looked at him in amusement; I thought everyone knew that.
"He's a cool dude," Jack nodded.
Right.
"Well, I gotta go, so see ya, guys!" I half waved as I took off, putting that in my box of weird moments.
I made it to the stage on time and hurried on it, waiting as Pierce the Veil finished their song.
"I think I'm in rockstar heaven," I told Vale. "Jack from ATL offered me a piggy back ride."
"And you said no?" Vale rolled her eyes at me. "What the hell, Lee?"
"I saw Ash Costello earlier," Nate commented, and I frowned at him.
he was not allowed to comment.
"She's doing Warped?" Clarke raised a brow.
"Yeah, she was announced before us," Vale nodded, and I yawned as we waited.
Finally, Vic and his band ambled past, shooting us tired grins as they did.
We waited a minute, then took the stage, waving at everyone. When we finished, I waved at the crowd, feeling a sunburn starting on my arms.
They suddenly started roaring, and I looked over, watching as Andy trotted across stage toward me.
I hesitated.
What was he doing? I frowned at him. He flashed me a grin, and ---.
"Noo!" I flailed at him and started to run, but he grabbed me, hauling me over his shoulder as his inner cave man broke out again.
"Hey everybody!" he said as he grabbed the mic. "You guys don't mind if I steal her, do you?"
"Yes!" I hissed, pinching his butt; this was embarrassing! What was he doing ---?
Vale suddenly yelped, and I raised my head to see CC laughing as he snuck up behind her. She hit him with her guitar, causing the crowd to laugh.
They were both so dead!
"You're so dead!" I hissed as Andy carried me off stage. "I'm going to run you over with my fucking bus, Andy!"
He laughed, ignoring me as he left the stage behind.
"Set me down!" I squawked, smacking his ass so hard I knew I left a hand print.
"Ow! And nope, we have plans."
"What are you talking about?" I scoffed, feeling my cheeks redden as the other artists stared at us.
"If we leave now we'll make it."
"Make it where? Andy, I'm tired! And sunburned," I complained, trying to wiggle loose.
"To the bonfire! We have one every year after the first couple days, and if we go now we can make it before it's over."
"And I can't walk to my bus on my own?"
"You're not going on your bus."
I frowned at his butt.
"Yo!" I glanced over, and blushed even more.
This was mortifying.
Ronnie caught pace with us.
"You heading to the fire?" he asked, and Andy nodded.
"Yeah, I just had to get Leah."
"I see that," he laughed.
No more!
I pinched his butt this time, hard.
"Fuck! Ow, okay, fine," Andy sat me down on my feet, and I glared at him.
"So help me if you ever do that again I'll sleep at my own apartment!" I hissed at him, and he raised his hands in a placating manner.
"Fine, sorry, babe."
I continued to glare, my hands going to my hips.
"Are those tats?" Ronnie asked, amd I followed his gaze down. My jeans had come down low enough now where the top of the letters were peeking out, my shirt not long enough to hide them.
"Yeah. Why does everyone do that?" I grumbled, tugging at my shirt.
"Because you don't look like a tat kind of girl. Piercings, I can see. Ink? Not so much," Ronnie shook his tattooed face.
I rolled my eyes, and ran my hand through my hair.
I'd been around Ronnie a lot, but we hadn't ever actually had a conversation before, or even technically been introduced.
It was one of those.
Andy slipped his sweaty palm in mine, and I relented, holding his hand. As annoying and stupid as his little antic had been, I would just plot my revenge for later.
Besides, we had all summer to embarrass each other.
And did I have a bucket list of antics planned.

Notes

First day of Warped complete!
Mostly.
Have any of you guys been to Warped?ALWAYS wear sunblock! If you're as pale as I am, you fry like a lobster!