He's So Aggravating, But I Think I Like Him

Chapter Eight

Mandy

I woke up with a really bad headache. I remembered everything from last night, suprisingly. Must not have been drunk enough. I remembered the show and how awesome it was. I remember hanging out with everyone from Insomniac Outcast and Craig, Monte, and Max. And I remember.......truth or dare. I groaned from embarrassment.

I walked out of the bunk room and found the pain reliever bottle and popped a few of those, before making breakfast. I was eating cereal when everyone walked out of the bunk room. It was clear everyone had hangovers and didn't want to talk to each other right now. I had just finished my cereal when someone knocked on the bus door. I pushed it open to reveal Max.

Max

I woke up, remembering everything. Especially my kiss with Mandy. The feelings I felt last night are what made me grow the balls to come knock on the Insomniac Outcast bus door.

"Hey, um, can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked. She stepped out of the bus and closed the door. I was looking down to avoid eye contact.

"What do you want to talk about?" She asked.

I blushed and looked up slightly. She was wearing short shorts and a black tanktop. I looked down again. Dammit.

"Um, do you remember last night?" I finally asked.

Now she blushed, "Yeah."

"Okay, well, um......"

Breathe in. Breathe out.

"Well, I really like you, and not just because of last night. I started liking you as soon as we started getting to know each other at the mall. I know I was an asshole at first and I'm sorry for that. But I do like you, and I was wondering if...." I choked on my words.

Come on, Max! You were doing so good!

"If you'd wanna go out," Wait!

"I mean, hang out sometime," That's better.

Mandy

Did Max just ask me to go on a date with him?

"You mean, like, a date?" I voiced my thoughts.

He nodded.

I don't know if I'd want a serious relationship with Max. I know he's a drug addict. Anyone who's an ETF fan knows that and I wouldn't want that to get in the way. But, going out would be fun, I think. Maybe if I grew to love him enough the drug problem won't bother me as much. He's a nice guy. I looked at Max. I must have been thinking longer than I thought because I saw hurt in his eyes. I've made up my mind.

"Yeah, sounds fun. When?"

He smiled at that, "Whenever's good for you." he said. I thought for a second.

"Tonight?" I asked.

"Okay. Um, seven okay?"

I nodded and looked at the time on my phone. It was only eleven in the morning. I have a few hours

"Well, I'll see you later I guess." I said. He said goodbye and I walked back on to my bus. I saw Chris, Corey, Mike, and Maddie scrambling away from the window. They all turned and looked at me.

"You guys were watching?" I asked.

"And listening," Mike answered.

"And it's about time you two went out," Maddie added. I smacked her in the back of the head.

"I need to talk to you," I said and we went to the back of the bus.

"I like Max and all, but he's a drug addict. I don't know if I want anything serious with him," I confessed.

"Maybe he'll stop when you guys are official," she suggested optimistically and I raised a skeptical brow.

"I don't know, this is for you two to talk about," she said and walked out. I nodded to myself.

We will not talk about this. I walked off the tour bus to think. I wasn't watching where I was going and ran into someone. I fell back on my ass and the other person just stumbled. I apologized and stood up quickly.

"It's okay. I'm Nick, by the way. I like your music. You're a really good guitarist," he said, offering his hand to shake. He was a member of one of the smaller bands tagging along with us.

"I know who you are and thanks. I like your music too," I said, embellishing a little.

We walked around the venue talking. Nick was really funny and nice. He had a sense of humor I could enjoy. We must have talked for a few hours because the next time I checked my phone for the time, it was six.

"Sorry, Nick, I have to go," I said and walked back to the bus to get ready for my date with Max.