Stepping off the tour bus, you could easily hear the chatter of fans and other concert goers, queuing down the road, ready to collect their wristbands for Hit The Deck festival.

The gates didn’t open for another two hours, and the first band didn’t play till thirty minutes after gates, in the smallest of the 4 indoor venues the festival was spread. So there really was no need for them to all be queuing now, they would only be sent away and told to return when gates opened. I guess they were just very keen and excited.

Although, the weather wasn’t exactly ‘camping outside for a good few hours just to collect a wristband’ suitable. It was overcast and gloomy, with a cold bite in the wind. Sunshine was promised later in the day, though, so that’s all I would hope for.

All around me people were rushing to load in their equipment, set up merch and signing tents and setting up the food and drinks vans.

We don’t play till nine o’clock on the main stage in the venue ‘Rock City’ just before Kids In Glass Houses, so we were free to roam around, go grab some food, or help out other bands if we wanted, and if our assistance was needed.

“Bryony? When’s our first interview today?” I turned around, shouting back into the doorway of the bus, hoping our band manager could hear me.

Bryony, a small blond, with pale skin and perfect angular features appeared in the doorway at the top of the steps, wearing black ripped skinny jeans and a loose fitting Anthem Made tank top. She had pulled her hair into a bun, which was sitting on the top of her head, with some loose strands falling around her face.

She was holding a clipboard with our bands schedule attached onto, and the stage times for every band and venue. Looking over it quickly, she seemed to find what she was looking for and looked up to me with a small smile on her face.

“12.30, it’s a joint interview with We Are The In Crowd for Rock Sound, they’re doing a female fronted band article. After that Adam and Justin are filming a guitar instruction video for some website which helps inspire kids to learn instruments and get more into music, and while they’re doing that you’re going to be watching and meeting bands, making friends, whatever you want. You’re stressed, and you’re not doing a very good job of hiding it!”

She slowly walked down the steps, so she was stood directly in front of me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

She could see straight through me, she was one of my closest friends, we knew each other since Primary school, and lost contact with each other until roughly seven years ago when we bumped into each other, got talking and she told me she was pursuing a career in the music industry managing, and we so happened to be looking for someone just like her.

It was the best decision I made, bringing her on board, because she’s the perfect band manager. She knows when we’re being pushed too hard, and not enough. She’s also not afraid to show authority and let us know when we need to do something, she doesn’t take our crap, and that helps so much.

“I’m just getting tired, you know? The tour’s finishing in a couple weeks, and I think all the late nights, early mornings and everything’s catching up to me. I think that’s all I need, just a little time to relax and have some fun”

“I just worry about you, Jase. Promise me you’ll talk to me if you’re feeling down or just need a girly chat or anything. I’m never too busy to help you when you really need it, okay?” I was looking down at the floor, she re positioned her face, so she could look into my eyes.

“I promise” Looking up, I gave her a genuine smile, to let her know I appreciate it.

I was pulled into a hug, I had to reach up slightly because she may be small, but I was tiny. I stood at 5 foot, while she was an okay 5’4’’.

We stood like that for a couple minutes, until we heard a wolf whistle coming from a little way from us, near another bands tour bus.

“Girl on girl, that’s what I like to see!” A loud American accent boomed out, I looked over at who was responsible.

Scanning the outside backstage area, behind the main venue, I spotted a tall, heavily tattooed man. Standing with a group of males, all looking in our direction with amused looks on their faces. I recognised the culprit as Austin Carlile, lead vocalist for the band Of Mice & Men. I didn’t know him personally, only through the business and mutual friends I knew of him.

“Shut your trap, Carlile!” Bryony shouted over, trying to hide her amusement as she stuck up her middle finger to him.

“You gotta make me, babe!” With that last remark, he sent us a wink and stalked off into the venue, closely followed by his bands mates, all laughing along.

“Men” I scoffed, rolling my eyes and laughing, pushing away from Bryony and walking into the venue ourselves after locking up the bus.

------------------------------

We were sitting in small room backstage, our band Polaris was sitting on one large sofa, while We Are The In Crowd were situated on another, right next to us. We were being filmed for an interview with Rock Sound, and so far all the questions had been directed at either me or Tay, and I could tell the guys were getting bored and restless.

I wasn’t really paying any attention, just letting my mind wander, while Tay Jardine was finishing answering up a question about what it was like to be a girl in an all male band. I’m sure she’d answered it a million times already, as had I, and interviewers, take note; the answer never changes.

I was suddenly snapped out of my thoughts, and stopped playing with a loose thread on my shirt when I heard my name.

“So, Jasey. As you may know there has been a lot of rumours going round the internet about you as of late. Feel like clearing some of them up?”

I rolled my eyes and let out an inaudible sigh. The rumour mill will never stop churning bullshit out, so I never really saw any point in addressing anything, if you just ignored it, soon it would just blow over, but sure enough something else would be brought up. I tend not to let myself get worked up about pre-teens trying to start drama over social networking sites. Wasn’t worth anything.

Although, I was bored, and it would be kind of interesting and hilarious to find out what ridiculous stories people are believing these days.

“Sure, why not. Ask away!” I replied tiredly. Throwing my arm limply in the air for emphasis for the interviewer to carry on the questioning.

“Okay, so I’ll just list some things that you have been said, and you just let us know if it’s true or false. Simple enough” The girl who was interviewing us must have been in her mid to late twenties, had two full tattoo sleeves and a visible thigh piece. She was obviously trying to impress some band members by wearing nothing but a too-small bralet which made her boobs almost pop out and a tiny skirt, to get an interesting story out of something that was nothing, or just trying to bed a band member, just so she can say she has.

I nodded her way, to let her know I knew what to do and to tell her to carry on.

“True or false, you was or still are engaged to Gus?” She looked up from her notes, a hopeful look in her eye. Obviously wanting an exclusive out of this interview.

I looked to my right, down the sofa, catching eyes with our drummer, Gus. He looked so confused and like someone had just punched a baby.

“C’mon would it really be that bad to be engaged to me, Gussy?” I laughed. He just shook his head.

“Who the hell comes up with these things? I’d never heard that one before. I didn’t even think people were interested enough in me to drag myself into stupid rumours!” He was shook his head in disbelief and at what people would make up.

I turned away from Gus, looking straight into the camera.

“Me and Gus are not, and have never been engaged, or in a relationship” I said with finality.

“Okay, next, Jasey. Is it true you and your brother, Alex’s girlfriend, Lisa had a fist fight last October. Apparently cops were involved. Some people were saying it happened outside a nightclub in Baltimore?”

“Are you actually kidding me? Where did you hear this?” I sat up straighter, more interested in what the woman opposite me had to say.

Me and Lisa never got on. We were civil to each other for the sake of Alex, and no matter how much I would love to punch her in the face at times, I never have and would. I always tell our fans that violence isn’t the answer, I wouldn’t want to tell them one thing, and turn around and do another. I don’t want to be a hypocrite.

“Well, it’s been on some gossip sites, some people have said they witnessed it, and Lisa tweeted a very cryptic reply to someone asking about it the other week”

“What did she say?” I was starting to get very interested now. Lisa was known in Baltimore and by people that knew of her as a shit stirrer, and someone who wasn’t exactly completely honest. She would twist the truth a lot, and that’s why I didn’t like her.

“I have it here, and I quote, a fan of All Time Low asked her ‘what’s all this about you and Jasey getting into a fight?’ and she replied with ‘it’s no secret we don’t get along at all. It would kind of make sense that we had eventually gotten our frustrations with each other out, huh?’ what do you make of that?”

I could feel my blood boil. She really enjoyed making me out to be someone I’m not. We’d definitely be having words after this interview was over, I don’t care if I woke her up from her precious beauty sleep, because of the time differences. We needed to talk this out.

“I think it’s complete bullshit. We have never had a physical fight. I’m just annoyed at how she would lead people on to think that the rumours are true, just so people talk about her. As long as people talk about her, she enjoys it. Doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad. Any news is good enough for her and I’m sick of it. That’s all I’ll say on the matter” as soon as I finished my mini ramble I regretted it. That would probably ignite more talk about us. That’s the last thing I needed as well, I should of just left it at a simple ‘false’ and of been done with it.

The interview finished not long after that and as soon as we were free to go, I said a quick ‘see you later’ to my band members, and waved goodbye to Mike, Jordan, Tay, Rob and Cameron, and left to make a call to Lisa.

Searching for her in my phone book I walked around backstage at the venue, trying to find somewhere which was quiet and had decent signal.

I found the dressing room, it wasn’t occupied currently by anyone so I sat down on the sofa and made the call.

Just before it was about to go to voice mail she picked up.

“What do you want? Do you not realise how early it is here?” I could tell I had woken her up, by her scratchy voice.

“I don’t care, right now. All I care about is how you think it’s okay to make people believe things that both of us know isn’t true. What the hell is all this about you making fans believe that we had that alleged fist fight in Baltimore a while ago?” I had obviously woken her up a bit more by my loud voice. I didn’t mean to shout. She just ground my gears.

“Oh will you chill out, Jesus. You’re ridiculous!” Her high pitched voice pierced my ears. If I never heard that annoying voice ever again I certainly wouldn’t complain.

“Lisa, seriously. You just need to stop leading fans on just to start drama. If it’s about you and no one else, doesn’t involve me, that’s fine. Make up all the stories you want. When I’m brought into it though, then I get really pissed off. Delete all the tweets about it and just leave it the fuck be!”

I angrily pulled my iPhone away from my ear and disconnected the call. Hopefully she would listen to me and get the message, but I highly doubt it.

I slumped and rested my head against the back of the sofa I was sitting on. Letting out a long, deep sigh. Trying to let go of all my frustrations.

“You okay?” A voice behind me made me jump up, my eyes opening quickly and looking toward the doorway to see who had sneaked up on me.

“You could at least make your presence known!” I shouted back to him, playfully. Austin Carlile, stood there, leaning against the doorway. Hands in his jeans pockets. Hair perfectly quaffed, and a grin on his face.

“You’re the girl on girl… girl!” He pointed a hand at me, trying to figure out if it was true for a second. I rolled my eyes and slightly nodded my head.

“Yeah, dude! High five!” He stepped toward me, holding his hand high in the air. Even if I had intentions of providing him with a high five, I wouldn’t of been able to reach his hand. He towered over me.

“We were just being girls. You know. Being all sensitive and girly and shit. I don’t swing that way, so leave me alone!” I had a playful bite to my tone, and pushed him away slightly, but kept my facial expression serious.

“Well, in that case” he lowered his hand, placing it in the space between us. “I’m Austin”

I reached my hand out, placing it in his and shaking.

“Jasey”

His hands were smooth and warm. I felt a slight buzz, electric feeling run up my arm at the contact. It felt weird, but comforting and nice. Did he feel it, too?