Along For The Ride

Chapter 4:

The next morning everyone was fast asleep. By the time Zack woke up Sam was long gone, not that anything between them had progressed past drunk kisses though he was still a bit sad to wake up and see she was gone. He sat up and ruffled up his hair before getting up and smacking Jack's side causing him to groan. "Get up, or I'm not driving you home." Zack said sternly as he stood up and stretched, Jack slowly got up and rubbed his face while Zack went to search for his keys walking around the pillows and furniture scattered around the room from the night before.

Rian was still passed out in his bed, Alex and Jess were both awake and wandering around in their pajamas. Jess leaned back against the counter and ate her cereal. Alex came in and barely glanced at her as he headed straight for the coffee maker. He poured himself a cup, and turned around to face Jessa, "Want a cup?" he said simply but behind his sleepy morning gaze he seemed to look longingly towards her. She just gave a small nod and turned around to grab a mug from the cabinet above her though she was a bit too short to reach. He came up behind her , his body lightly brushing against her as he reached up above her to grab the cup she couldn't reach. He handed it to her, she looked up at him as he towered over her looking down into her eyes and she looking up into his. Neither of them said anything, Alex turned around to grab the coffee pot, he made no eye contact as he poured a cup and walked back across the kitchen to set down the coffee pot and retrieve his own mug. She took a sip of her coffee and set it on the counter as she continued to eat her cereal paying no mind as Alex took his coffee and went to sit on the living room couch. Rian emerged from his room and into the kitchen, "Morning Princess." he muttered and went straight for the coffee pot. Jess sdaid with a mouthful of cereal, "Morning Ri." He stood in front of her and sipped his coffee which he always took black. "Hey, did you need anything? I'm heading to the store later after I get back from Lauren's." Jess shook her head, "No I don't need anything..Ooh. Lauren? Who's she? Does Riri have a date?" He chuckled and raised up his cup to his mouth, "No Lauren's a bassists, she's pretty cool. Really laid back, we're just friends. I met her on tour awhile back." Jess smirked, "Uh huh. Whatever." Rian just chuckled as he disapeared with her mug in hand to her room.

Rian grabbed his keys and turned towards Alex who was sitting on the couch, "Hey man, you coming to Lauren's to hang?" Alex shrugged and sat back on the couch as he glanced over at Rian, "Yeah, I think I'm just going to hang out here. Have fun with Lauren though.", he smirked. Rian nodded. "I will." He added before heading out the door. Jess came out of her room dressed, she walked into the kitchen and put her coffee cup in the kitchen sink. "Later Gaskarth." she sang out as she grabbed her phone and headed out the door. She stood on the front steps of the apartment and checked her phone.

"That's cool though that your brother is back and you're living together. " Taylor nodded as he sipped his frappuccino as they walked down the street. Taylor was Jessa's best friend since middle school. He was a very skinny brunette who was probably the most normal aspect of her life, he wore converse and skinny jeans nearly everyday paired with one of his many band shirts. He had the classic teenage skater fringe haircut that Jess always offered to cut for him. Jessa shrugged, "Yeah, it's cool. I mean Rian's my brother and he's one of my best friends. And I missed the guys it was cool to see Jack and Zack again, it's kinda awkward having Alex around all the time.." Jess muttered as she sipped her tea. Taylor stuck one hand in his jean pocket, the other holding his drink, "Alex? Alex, Alex? As in Alex from your brother's band..Alex who was your first Alex? THAT ALEX?" Taylor questioned and she nodded, "Yes. That Alex." Taylor laughed a bit and Jess said, "What are you laughing at jackass?" He smirked and said, "Well. You still like Alex don't you?" Jess shook her head, "No. I mean it's been ages, it was a stupid childish crush. He's not just in some high school band with Ri anymore..they're famous and he's a rockstar..and he just sees me as a kid. I'm Rian's kid sister." Taylor raised a brow, "Jess you're like not even three years younger." Jessa shrugged and sipped her tea lieu of response.

They turned a corner and a small collection of men with cameras started flashing pictures of Taylor and Jessa's stroll through the city. She put up an arm to block the cameras as she and Taylor ducked down a side street to avoid the paparazzi. "I know the guys have it worse but this is ridiculous. I don't know why they're taking pictures of me. Not like I'm very interesting." Jess muttered and Taylor laughed, "You're like a sort-of-celebrity Jessa. It's cool." Jess rolled her eyes, "As if."Taylor laughed as they turned a corner, "Ugh. Well my day's ruined. Want to head back to my place? It's just around the corner and I doubt anybody is home." Taylor nodded, "Yeah, sounds good."

They arrived on the apartment door step, slipping inside the apartment to escape the men armed with cameras. "Shit, I didn't think that they would follow us this far." Jessa said and Taylor chuckled. Alex , who had The Ramones playing throughout the apartment, walked into the living room and said, "Who followed you?" he asked curiously. Jessa sighed, "The Paps decided that today I was of interest so I got to have my picture taken as we fled two blocks back here." Taylor was silent as he awkwardly stood there watching. "Oh uh, Alex this is my friend Taylor." Alex nodded, "Nice to meet you and stay inside then, they get pretty pushy and you don't want to deal with that, I'll text Rian and let him know you're home." He said and turned up the music as he walked to his bedroom an odd sort of tension between Alex and Jessa.

"That was weird." Taylor said, "You two not getting along?" Jessa shrugged and walked to her own room with Taylor following, "No, he's just my Rian's friend, just a guy I live with. I don't know what his deal is." she said. They sat down on Jessa's bed and she kicked off her shoes and he did the same. She laid down on her stomach and pulled out her laptop. "So, you still coming to that Grenday show?" Taylor inquired and she nodded, not looking up from her laptop screen as she said, "Duh, hey we could watch that shitty zombie movie. We never finished it." Taylor nodded and laughed, "Oh yeah that was terrible. We should put it on!"
Taylor and Jessa were happily watching the low budget zombie movie in her room and laughing their assess off. Alex had finally turned his music off and was now sitting on the couch watching tattoo competition show that happened to be on. Rian came in through the front door swinging it shit before hopping over the back of the couch and plopping down beside Alex. " Have you even moved since I left?" , Rian asked with a small laugh. Alex shrugged, " I've been running around the place, got bored so reruns of Ink Master it is." Rian gave a small chuckle, " Where's Jess? I thought you said she came home?" Alex nodded as he watched the television and said, " She did. She brought some guy with her. Their in her room." Alex said plainly and Rian became insatiably curious, " What? She brought a guy back here??" Rian interrogated and Alex nodded without giving him so much as a side glance, " Yeah, I think is name was Tyler or something." Rian laughed as he relaxed a bit. " Taylor. Tall skinny? Kind of an emo haircut?" Alex nodded and looked at Rian. " Yeah. Yeah, that's him. Do they like hang out a lot? I didn't know Jessa had a boyfriend.." He said a bit somberly. Rian laughed, " Jess and Taylor? Oh no, those two have been hanging out since she still played with Barbies." Alex nodded, " Huh, guess I never really noticed. Then again when I came over I was there for you not Jess." Rian nodded as he sat back and turned up the volume.