Finding Grace

"CRAIG! ARE WE THERE YET?" "
Dammit, Valerie! If you don't stop doing that I'll---."
"BUT DAD!"
Craig looked like he was going to tear his hair out. Vale had been incessant with her nagging at our band manager, and I swear he'd threatened to quit ten times in the last fifteen minutes.
I chuckled, excitedly looking out the window as we waited in traffic, the bus parking for Warped visible in the distance.
We were almost there! If not a little behind schedule. Like almost an hour past noon late.
I rapped my fingers impatiently against the glass, squealing internally as we pulled into the gates, gravel crunching beneath our wheels as we finally found a place to park.
I tried to call Andy, but he didn't answer, which wasn't anything new; I couldn't remember his performance time.
I hopped off the bus, my blue converse crunching the gravel as Vale and I started toward the stages, weaving around other tour buses.
Now I felt sort of anxious again.
We were still a relatively new band, and I knew it was only because we'd opened for BVB we had gotten so popular so quick that Warped had wanted us so early on.
I literally owed some of our success to Andy, though it's not like me dating him hadn't helped some too.
I shook my head.
Sleeping With Sirens, Memphis May Fire, Falling in Reverse, I read the bus names as we walked by, and I think Vale was going to hyperventilate with excitement. Her eyes widened every time we stepped by a band she idolized until I thought her eyes would pop out.
"This is amazing!" she whispered. "I know we're famous like them now too but I'm going to fangirl so hard at them I'm gonna pee my pants."
I laughed.
"Vale, it's gonna be okay. You just can't show you're intimidated. They smell fear." I teased her, winding my hair up into a knot as a cool breeze swept by, the sun hot and burning through my white Vans tank.
"That was Vic!" Vale whispered to me in a garbled voice. "And that's Jacky Vincent! It's like a badass walk of fame!"
I grinned.
Vale was gonna have so much fun.
I cast my eyes forward, seeing a bunch of people I wished I could get to autograph my entire body, but restraint was necessary here.
Especially when Vale was as excited as a kid as Disneyland.
Correction, this WAS her Disneyland.
I chuckled, stepping around Kellin Quinn and sending him an absent smile like I didn't turn into squish on the inside and want to squeal octaves higher then even his angelic voice could reach.
I still couldn't believe we were at Warped!
AHHHHH!
Okay, Leah, contain yourself, I told myself sternly, forcing down my giddiness.
"Have you seen the guys anywhere?" I asked, searching for Andy. "I don't know when he's playing."
"I dunno. CC didn't answer me when I called," she shrugged. Huh.
And CC was like super whipped.
I sighed, and spotted Chris.
He was laughing with some of his band mates, and I knew he was supposed to be on soon. For some reason I could remember his time.
I sent him a wave as we walked by, and he grinned, catching my hand and pulling me back.
"Leah! You haven't met the rest of my guys, have you?" he asked, speaking loudly to be heard over the music.
No, I hadn't formerly met them all, but I definitely knew who each of them were. Josh, Ricky, Devin, and Ryan all grinned at me, in various stages of their scary makeup.
"Hi, guys!" I greeted, and pulled Vale to me forcefully. "Ya'w haven't met my guitarist Vale, have you?"
God, Leah, just remind all of them how country you are?
She had had a thing for Ricky at one point, before CC had become the sun in her eyes.
"Hey," she greeted, hands going to her hips. Vale pulled off casual way better then I did, so I was pretty sure she wouldn't embarrass herself if I left her alone.
She struck up an easy convo with the guys, getting them laughing and cutting up with her like she was part of their band.
I chuckled, taking a step back. I really wanted to find Andy before we went on.
"Hey, we're on at three," Chris suddenly said, his fingers on my arm lightly so I wouldn't walk off. "You wanna surprise these guys with a rare live showing of Rip Their Hearts Out?" "Sure. What stage? We're on at two."
"Seven." That would work. "Cool, I'll meet you there!"
I assured him, and then took off by myself in search of my boyfriend. I would find him eventually, I supposed.
And I did!
He was by one of the main stages, Jake and him talking to two other guys who had their backs turned toward me. By the blue shirt and blonde hair, you could only guess who one of the guys were with his camera at the ready.
I upped my pace, wanting to actually touch him for the first time in a week! I felt so deprived.
"Andy!" Andy turned to look at his name, and then he grinned, stepping away from his friends and towards me.
I couldn't help myself.
I jumped him.
Or on him, to be more accurate. He caught me easily as my legs wrapped around his waist, my lips catching his eagerly. "I missed you," I breathed against his lips, the hot metal of his lip ring distracting me.
"I missed you too," he murmured, slowly setting me on my feet. "You're late."
"I'm always late anymore," I chuckled, and locked my lips with his again.
"Wow, I actually got all of that," I heard Bryan comment. "Who knew Leah could jump so high?"
"You should see her when Andy stocks the popcorn on a shelf too high for her," I heard Jake joke, and someone else laughed.
Oh shit, that was Ronnie Radke.
I had literally jumped my boyfriend in front of Ronnie Radke. Well.
"You wanna go back to the bus?" I murmured in Andys ear, and his hands tightened on my waist.
"I go on in thirty minutes."
"I can have you back in twenty." He grinned, his fingers slipping through mine.
He turned to his guys.
"I'll be back," he said as he began pulling me behind him. "See you, Ronnie!"
Thank god my bus would be empty.

Notes