Novocaine Hearts

Lexa's POV

Are you ready for this? Cause you have to be. This is it. This is the break that we have been waiting for and I can't fuck it up. I owe this to my band, to show them that I can do this...

Our bus pulled up to the lot and I shivered. The cold sweats were beading on the back of my neck. I looked down at my hands and I could see them twitching. What I would give to have a cigarette right now.
"Lex, you okay?" Nate's voice said as I felt his hand touch my shoulder.
I looked up into his almost black eyes, trying to communicate without speaking.
"You'll be fine. You'll get out there and everyone will be going nuts! Warped has not seen a band like us for a long time. We're the new Sum 41" He said, trying to comfort me.
"What if I can't handle it?" I choked.
"Look, we're all here. Just talk to us if you need to. If anything, try to make it through the show, then you can come back here and hide out. We'll completely understand. Okay?"
I nodded.
"Good, now we gotta get moving. We play at 2" Nate said with enthusiasm.
I sighed and dropped my head into my hands. I hoped I wasn't in over my head.

Something no one ever told us about Warped: There is a lot of waiting.
We all stood backstage, our nerves shot.
Parker was pacing the length that he had, Saxon was tapping his drumsticks against his knees with more force than needed and Nate was over doing his vocal warm ups.
I was trying as hard as possible to focus on strumming my guitar to keep me calm.
"2 minutes guys" a stage hand said, popping his head in on us.
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
I could head Parker hyperventilating.
"PJ, it'll be okay. Stop stressing" I said going over to him and grabbing his hands.
"I know... We just haven't played a show in a while... Especially one this big... Oh God..." He stressed.
"Parker!" I said, making him look at me. "Guitar. Play it. That's it."
He took one more deep breath and calmed. "Okay" he smiled.
"Okay guys, it's time!" The stage hand said, ushering us towards the stage.
Nate quickly grabbed each of us and pulled us close.
"Here comes the pep talk" Saxon laughed
"I'm gonna make this quick, but I want this to be a thing we do every time we go on stage. Yell 'punk's not dead.'"
We all smiled and yelled in unison. "PUNK'S NOT DEAD!"

"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK! LITERALLY, WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?!" Nate yelled as we ran off stage.
"We fucking nailed it!" Saxon shouted in his face, grabbing his shirt.
"I can't believe we just did that! We did it!" I screamed.
"They loved us!" Parker said with surprise.
Nate was now hyperventilating. "Okay guys, we need to chill. This was one of like fifty shows. We are going to put our hearts into every fucking show like that one" he said with every bit of passion. "So, let's go get some food and rest up. This is going to be the best Summer ever."
We all started to put our gear away when I noticed we had some bystanders watching our show.
I looked over at Nate, next to me and tapped his arm. "Hey, isn't that Ashley Purdy and Jake Pitts of Black Veil Brides?" I asked.
"Holy shit! It is! Ahh, I really wanted to ask Ashley for some tips" he said biting his lip.
"Well don't drag me into it. I just pointed them out cause they were watching our show" I shrugged.
"REALLY!?" Nate squealed. "I know you don't like them, but you have to come with me! We're gonna be on tour with them all Summer. I need to be friends with them."
I rolled my eyes. "Fine; why aren't you dragging PJ and Saxon?"
"Cause I don't want you to change your mind, now come on!" He said dragging me towards them.
"Hi guys" Nate said awkwardly. "I'm Nate and this is Lexa. We're from Novocaine Hearts. The newbs this year" he chuckled.
I wanted to facepalm myself.
"Hey, I'm Ashley and this is Jake" Ashley said extended his hand to shake each of ours; Jake did also.
"You guys put on a great show" Jake commented.
I saw Nate smile playfully and blush.
"Really? We weren't shit? We never played a show like this."
"No need to be so modest. You guys are naturals. Some bands just have the knack" Ashley shrugged and took a sip from his red cup.
"Thank you so much! You don't understand how much it means to me, to us, to hear you say that!" Nate said, grinning from ear to ear.
"Okay, enough praise, otherwise he'll go into fangirl mode" I said making Nate take a step back from them.
"So how do you find playing bass and doing vocals?" Ashley asked Nate.
That was going to be a long conversation, so I decided to back away when Jake spoke to me.
"So guitar are you playing?" He asked.
"Oh, umm, nothing special...Just Schecter. I should really help my band pack up" I said trying to get away.
"Don't worry about it. It's what stage hands are for."
I rolled my eyes. "I suppose. I don't like other people touching my stuff."
"You'll get use to it" Jake chuckled. "Can I give you some advice?"
"Uhh, sure?"
"Loosen up! Enjoy being on stage. Your skills could use some work. The rhythm sounded off at some points."
"Are you kidding me?!" I said in outrage. "That is probably one of the best shows I've played and you're critising me?!"
"Well.... Umm..."
Nate caught the gist of our conversation and stepped in.
"What's going on Lexa" he said touching my arm.
"He's saying I'm a shit guitarist!"
"What?! No I didn't!" Jake said in defense.
"Jake, what the fuck man?! Lexa, don't listen to him, I thought you were great, just fine tuning, that's all you need" Ashley smiled gently.
"What are you trying to do? Praise me so I'll want to sleep with you, manwhore!" I spat.
Nate tighten his grip on my arm, trying to hold me back.
Ashley looked shocked. "Pretty low blow cause that's not who I am anymore" he said flashing his left hand that had a sliver wedding band on the ring finger.
"Fuck..." I trailed.
Ashley just smirked and walked off.
"Don't you have the internet or something?" Jake snapped.
"Hey! Fuck you man! Lexa is an amazing guitarist! She is basically self taught! She has been through so much fucking shit in her life and this is the one thing that makes her feel normal! So fuck you!" Nate roared then pulled me away.
"Nate..." I stuttered as he walked me across the venue to the bus lot.
"Nate stop" I breathed just as we found our bus.
"What?! What Lexa?! I can't let people do that to you! I don't want anything to bring you down this tour, even if it means I have to guard you myself, but I want you to stay away from Jake Pitts.

Notes

Thoughts?
Please comment, rate and subscribe :)
-Tina xx