Left For Dead

Echo’s POV
As we got off the bus in Salt Lake City, Utah, everyone kind of went their own way. So soon I was left alone on still very empty Warped grounds. The stages were still being build and everywhere you looked there were staff people setting up things.
I stumbled back on the bus and thought it might be time to pick out a bunk. Well, pick out wasn’t really the right term, I had made sure I was last to pick out so the crew and the rest of the band had already picked out a bunk when I would pick out mine. I was the last to join, so it only felt fitting that I would be the last one to choose.
I picked the remaining bunk and put my pajama’s on it, as a way of claiming the bunk. Not that anyone would steal it, but still. I put my bag on the top bunk and quickly went out of the bus. It was so hot outside, let along in that clammy bus.
Just as I stepped outside a very familiar bus came into view and stopped a few miles away. I grinned as I saw the familiar All Time Low logo on the black bus.
I ran towards it, already feeling less alone and I hadn’t even seen them yet. I had almost reached the bus when four familiar guys came out followed by a lot of crew members. They had a lot more crew than we did, which was logical. They were super well-known and we were just this little band that was given an amazing opportunity.
Alex looked around him, taking in the surroundings, until he saw me and smiled. “Well hello, my fellow Warped performer.” He said grinning and I just responded by throwing my arms around him and lying my head down on his chest.
I had missed him a lot. We had both been too busy with practicing lately to catch up. But now, we would have a lot of time to spend time together, more than we had since high-school.
“I’m so excited to be here and I’m so excited you’re here and I’m just overall excited!” I said letting out a squeal and I squeezed his waist a little tighter.
I felt his chest go up and down a little faster as he laughed. I pulled away and smiled at him.
“And here we have the love birds already!” Jack yelled as he walked towards me and Alex.
Alex let out a groan and rolled his eyes. “Can you stop it, Jack. We’re not together.” He said through his teeth.
I grinned. “He knows, Alex. He just want to annoy us.” I said.
This was how things always went. Jack always teased us, saying that we would be a lovely couple and stuff, Alex would get defensive and I would just laugh at it. I mean why not laugh at it? The thought of me and Alex together was pretty funny to be honest.
“Don’t I get a hug?” Jack asked and he pouted, spreading his arms wide. I rolled my eyes at him and hugged him.
Behind him were suddenly Zack and Rian and I both hugged them as well. These four guys were my only friends and probably the only people I ever missed or wanted to be around. Which sucked, because they were gone touring most of the time.
We talked for a while about everything and nothing. Zack told me that on their last performance they had pranked their crew members by throwing water balloons filled with ketchup at them. I had no idea how they managed to get the ketchup in the balloons, but I decided not to ask.
And so they all had their little stories of tours tot tell. It was kind of tradition of theirs to tell me everything that had happened during tours, so in the end, it would be like I was there with them. I liked hearing those stories, but I always wondered why they were all so eager to tell me all those things. I asked once, a year ago I guess. I remember Rian saying: “Well, you’re kind of the little adopted sister of the band. We genuinely miss you on tour and when we go through something we’re all like: ‘we need to tell Echo this when we come home!’”
I never understood why the guys of All Time Low liked me so much though, as they were basically the only one, but I did really felt like a sister of the band.
Eventually we ended up talking about my band stories, which were a lot less upbeat than theirs. “I don’t know. They’re all really nice, I think. I especially like Ally. She has really been trying so hard to be nice to me and I appreciate that a lot. The other two are also nice, I don’t really know them that well yet. But it’s just weird, because I’m already the most awkward person walking this earth and then it gets even more uncomfortable because I’m in a band that already knows each other for years, you know!” I said letting out all my worries in one go. I took a deep breath, regaining the breath I lost while talking really fast.
“You can’t give up this time, Echo!” Zack said sternly pointing his finger at me. “This is such a cool opportunity. And I know you feel like nobody likes you, but that’s not true!”
Alex nodded. “Definitely true. And if they don’t see how cool you are, then they are stupid and you can just hang out with us the rest of the tour.” He said and he winked at me.
I already felt a bit of relieve. I had at least a place I could go to if things would go wrong. “Thanks guys.” I said looking at my feet.
“I can always just show them that picture of you dressed like a clown on that one costumed party when you were fourteen. I’m sure they’ll like you immediately after seeing that.” Jack said and his smirk was hearable in his words.
I jerked my head up and looked at him angrily. “Don’t you dare, Barakat!” I said. “Or must I remind you of the fact that I have way more embarrassing pictures of you on my phone. It only takes a few seconds to send them to the top five biggest All Time Low fan accounts.”
He got pale and I grinned knowing I had won. I had no time enjoying it though, because a second later my name was being called: “Echo! I was searching for you everywhere! We have a sound check in a few minutes!” I recognized it to be Vanna’s voice.
I turned around and saw that Vanna was walking my way, followed closely by Shannon and Ally.
“Yes I’m coming!” I yelled back and they stopped walking.
“Are that your bandmates?” Alex asked me softly. When I nodded he said: “Introduce us!”
I sighed. “Do I have to?” I whined.
“What? Are you ashamed of us?” Alex asked and he smirked. He looked their way and I saw that the three girls were also softly discussing something.
“No of course not, it’s just that-“ But before I could finish my sentence Alex was already walking their way. The other boys followed soon and I was left at my spot.
I sighed and walked their way too. I was going to say: It’s just that I don’t want them to think I’m bragging with my famous friends.
At the other hand, I shouldn’t give a fuck. They were my friends and if I wanted to introduce them, then I would.
“Hi, I’m Alex. I’m Echo’s friend.” He said and he shook first Shannon’s hand, then Vanna’s and then Ally’s. They all looked a little shocked and a bit stars truck. After that Jack, Zack and Rian introduced themselves too as I reached the group.
I stood next to Alex, because for some reason I always felt a bit more comfortable if he was there. “So are you guys excited to play at Warped for the first time?” Alex asked them and he looked over all three of their faces.
“Yes! Definitely!” Ally said. “This is honestly so amazing. We have only been playing at small gigs before this, so this is such a big opportunity for us.” Her smile reached from ear to ear.
“Are you nervous? I knew I was for my first big performance.” Jack said with a grin on his face.
“So nervous, all the alcohol in the world probably couldn’t fix it. And I’m never nervous.” Shannon said and we all laughed. It fitted her personality to never be nervous somehow. The fact that she was nervous for this, only showed how big her passion for music was.
I took a grab on Alex’s arm and rested my head against it. He quickly traced his hand through my hair.
Vanna laughed. “What the fuck do we have to do when even you are nervous? You are normally the one that tells us to stop being chickens and just play.” She said.
Shannon shrugged. “I can still say that. But deep inside I’ll be a chicken myself.” She said and I chuckled.
Ally looked at me, saw how I was standing with Alex and then shot me a wink. I knew exactly what she meant and I just flipped her off. Which made her laugh.
“By the way, thank you, Alex. For signing Echo up for our band. We desperately needed a bassist and she is honestly amazing.” She eventually said turning to Alex.
I let go of Alex’ arm and lifted my head up again. “Well, I thought it would kind of be a waste of her talent to not do anything with it.” He said. He looked at me and smiled. I enthusiastically smiled back.
“Agreed.” Ally said giggling. “But we really need to go, girls.” The others nodded and walked off. I gave Alex a quick hug and walked after them.
I caught up with them and walked next to Ally. She looked at me giggled and then looked away again. “What?” I asked a little confused.
Ally shook her head. “He is so into you.” She said.
I laughed at her. “No he is not. I already told you, Ally. We’re just friends.” I said and I shook my head.
She sighed. “I know, but just the way he looks at you…it’s adorable.” She said, dreaming off a bit.
“We care a lot about each other, but not in that way.” I said.
“I think he thinks different about it.” She said and her face was a little more serious now.
I just shook my head and looked away. I knew she was wrong. She had only seen him for a few minutes, so I don’t think she could judge very well.
Besides, I knew he didn’t think of me that way. I knew that and I didn’t want him to. Just because I didn’t want to lose him. We were great as friends, but we wouldn’t work as more than that.

Notes

here you go. They're at warped.

what do you guys think? Any feedback is wanted!

xxxxx

Nicky