Paint Me A Happy Picture

"Bullshit. A tiger would totally win, Zeph. You're just hung up on all that Lion King crap," I retaliated, as Zephyr tried to tell me a lion would win if it were to fight a tiger.
"Don't insult the Lion King, Kat!" I heard Ebony yell from the back of the bus.
I let out an assortment of curses as the bus lurched underneath us, I practically fell into Zephyr's arms. He only chuckled at me.
"We're at the first venue!" I heard the bus driver yell from the front.
I jumped with excitement. "Let's get off this death hole and go see the stage!" I yelled, grabbing Rider's arm and practically dragging him off the bus. He smiled at me and ruffled my hair.
"You really are insane, aren't you, Kat?" he asked in his soft voice that I actually had come to adore.
I nodded, smacking his arm. "You know it."
I immediately let go of Rider as I saw a band member whom I was particularly fond of; James Cassells of Asking Alexandria. I practically ran over to him, trying not to squeal. "J-James Cassells?" Yeah, I have a bit of a stutter. It only happens every so often, usually when I'm nervous.
James glanced up from his phone, a lopsided smile on his face. "You're from that new band on Warped this year, right? Something Spinoff?"
I nodded slightly. "Sunday Spinoff. I'm the drummer. Katerina. Or Kat. Or you know...w-whatever..."
James seemed amused by all of this. "I'll call you Kat. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but a girl like you must be taken, right?"
I bit my tongue to keep from bursting into fits of laughter. "Um, no. I'm single," I corrected him.
James's smile only grew. "You best watch out, then. You probably won't be by the end of Warped, what with all the guys around here."
I stared at the ground and shrugged my shoulders. "My...my friend Ebony, our rhythm guitarist, she's way prettier. The guys like her way more."
James pointed over my shoulder to our bus door, where Ebony was exiting. "Her?"
I smiled slightly. "Yeah. Her."
James fought back a huge grin, unsuccessfully, I might add. "I'd choose you over her any day, dear," he said, and was that a blush? Had I just made James fucking Cassells blush?
"I would kiss you, but that would be impolite seeming as we just met," James said, keeping his gaze at his feet.
My jaw dropped and I felt someone clap their hand against my back. "You should go for it." Alec. That bastard.
And the next thing I knew, James was leaning in. Our lips met and we stayed like that for a few seconds before a wolf whistle pulled us apart. James scowled over towards Asking's bus where Ben was fist-pumping the air yelling, "Go, James!" repeatedly.
I scratched the back of my head nervously. "Well...I'll see you around, James," I said with a weak smile.
He only nodded. "Same to you, Katerina."
And with that, I walked away. My cheeks were on fire. Ablaze. "Alec, I fucking hate you!" I yelled, smacking him right across the face.
Alec only laughed. "Hey, you should hit him later, if you get what I'm saying."
If it was possible, I blushed more. "Let's just go see the stage, you ass."
Rider appeared next to us. "I saw you kissing Cassells. Score.The paparazzi definitely got a picture of that."
I signed deeply. "We haven't even been here half an hour. Holy fuck. It was just a kiss." I walked faster than the both of them and walked up to the stage we'd be on in a few hours. It was epic. Issues was setting up to play, and Tyler Carter, mmm, was he gorgeous. Whore, my mind yelled at me. Oh no, those voices would not start their shit again. My life was just coming back together.
I heard screeches and realized the gates must be opening. I turned to see girls and boys alike running into the venue. I began my walk back to the bus, seeing Zephyr and Ebony already had our tent set up. I sat down at the table between the two, fiddling with a stack of our band's t-shirts.
Ebony nudged me with her elbow. Dear Lord, Oliver Sykes, in all his glory, was walking over here. He was shirtless, and Jesus Christ, was it attractive.
Oli rested his arms on our table and he stared at the three of us. "I'm going to catch you guys's set in a few," he said simply.
It was all I could do not to gasp. Oli Sykes, the Oli Sykes, wanted to hear our music?
"Cool," Zephyr said with a grin. "Dude, you're like so fucking epic."
Oli chuckled. "Thanks. Well, I gotta roll, but it looks like you guys have got some fans coming this way." He walked off without another word.
Turning, I saw he was correct. Two girls and a boy, all of which looked around 15, came walking towards us.
The tallest girl spoke first. "I don't mean to blunt or cliche," she said confidently, "but your music saved my life. Me and Charlotte and Derek came from Sussex, England so we could see you guys ’cause we knew you weren't coming to Britain this year. I'm Taylor, by the way." She had a thick British accent, sounding similar to Oli's. I was touched by her short speech-type thing, and I stood up and walked around the table to hug the three of them.
I grinned at her. "We're gonna be singing a new song during the set today, I hope you'll catch it," I said with a smile.
Zephyr got up as well and walked over to her, grabbing her arm gently and pulling away the bracelets, kissing the hidden scars on her wrist. "Don't do this again, please. If we ever come to England, catch our show and talk to us and I'm going to be checking for new ones," he said, staring directly into her eyes the entire time. "Promise me?"
Taylor nodded, and I could see tears welling in her eyes.
Zephyr turned to Charlotte, and grabbed her wrists as well, kissing them. "I expect the same of you."
Ebony was smiling from behind the table. "What about you, Derek? You've been quiet."
Derek shrugged slightly. "Um...I...umm..."
I turned him towards me. "Show me your arms, please." He did as he was told. Jagged lines ran up his arms, with foul words scarred into them. "Oh, boy." I pulled off my cardigan and slid up my bracelets. I showed him the faded scars that were years old. "I got through this. You can too. Okay?"
Derek nodded and I pulled him into a hug.
"You three, be good. Stay safe. Catch our set later."

Notes

First chapter! There may be another up tonight. What do you think?