:::Manage Me, I'm A Mess::: [[Chapter 16]]

UBER SORRY. I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY WITH EVERYTHING. GAH. FML. I hope you enjoy this. :

I hope you're doing fine
I hope you've found the time
To chase that dream
I wanna see you shine
You were always on my mind
And my heart's on my sleeve
You know what I mean

I Don't Wish You Were Dead Anymore: Bowling For Soup

2 years later

*Grace POV*

My alarm buzzed right in my ear as I slammed it off. I groaned. I hated waking up any time of the day. It just seemed wrong for my body to even get out of bed these days. Most likely because of my hectic job. Or just trying to jungle everything at once. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. I was happy, for once. I sighed and sat, running my fingers through my hair. I could feel it sticking out at all angles. I probably looked like a member of the hair bear bunch or some shit. I sighed and dragged it back into a ponytail.

"Grace! You up!?" My roommate yelled from the kitchen of our two bed roomed apartment. "Yeah, two freaking seconds." I moaned in return as I heard her laugh. I kicked the blankets off me and walked into the lounge where Liana was sat, in her boyfriend's shirt, eating pop tarts. "There better be more where that came from." I threatened. She smiled and went back to the TV. I raided the cupboards and found no pop tarts. "Bitch." I hissed; just quiet enough for her not to hear.

So I poured myself my sugary cereal and went to join her. Not without stealing one of the pop tarts on her plate of course. "What the hell?!" She yelled, with her mouth full. I stuck my tongue out at her and took a bite out of her pop tart before putting it back onto her plate. "Just to annoy you my dear." I answered, swallowing the bite. She laughed and threw a pillow at me. We were both laughing insanely until the phone rang. "Hey Greg, what's up?" I asked, picking up the phone. "Hey Gracie. You ready for this photoshoot today?" I swallowed my food and nodded. "Sure am. Me and Liana are gonna be there in about, thirty minutes?"

"Great. Great. They're nice guys. Maria just interviewed 'em. I think you're gonna love them." I smiled. "Okay Greg, thanks!" I said, quickly hanging up. "That man still thinks he's cupid after like, a year." I sighed, pouring the rest of my breakfast into the sink. "He did you set you up real nice though babe." Liana replied, chucking her plate and coffee mug into the sink. "You helped, I mean, you and Kyle were already dating." She smiled. She does stupidly widely whenever the world 'Kyle' is mentioned in any sentence.

Her boyfriend is the drummer of Forever The Sickest Kids. They've been dating for about, what, two years. There is an age gap but not like, a huge one. No, my boyfriend isn't in Forever The Sickest Kids. I did go on one date with Kent, and then we decided to be friends. My boyfriend's in a different band, smaller, which is great. I met him at a Forever The Sickest Kids show in Virginia, which me and Liana were photographers, for Greg's magazine. Small talk after the show led to a few drinks which led to a kiss. He was coming up to LA for a few days after the gig, so we met up for a few dates and we just hit it off. He was a great guy, and I wouldn't replace him with anyone. I mean anyone. I smiled as I checked my phone and found one new text message from him. 'I'll call you later. I can't wait to see you again soon. Love A xo' "That him?" I nodded and put my phone away.

"We better get ready for this shoot." I sighed, nudging her. "We need to know what this band is like to get an idea for this shoot." Liana sighed. "Kelly said they were pretty stupid. Like, not unintelligent stupid. Like, silly stupid." I chuckled. "Immature, you mean? Like, penis jokes?" Liana nodded. I sighed. I had enough with other bands. Liana laughed out loud. She gets enough of them too. "Let's get ready then?" Liana asked, grabbing her Panic at the Disco shirt from the laundry. I nodded, grabbing my blink 182 shirt from the ironing.

*Alex POV*

Photographers are annoying enough without them being late. Given, only five minutes late, but still. "Alex, stop being a fucking pussy and get over here." Jack yelled across the empty room. I chuckled and jogged across to their table. "Looking out that window ain't gonna make them come quicker." Zack pointed out. "THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID." Rian yelled. We all laughed. Sex jokes equal win in this crowd. I stole a sip of Zack's Starbucks when I saw two girls run into the room. "We're so sorry we're late!" The brunette yelled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. I smiled at her. "It's cool." She smiled and her friend joined her. She stared at me for a minute.

"Grace. Stop staring." The brunette hissed. I chuckled. "I'm Liana and this is my partner Gracie. As in like, business and picture taking." I nodded, shaking her hand. Gracie stayed back but smiled warmly at me. "Okay, time to take pictures? Your make-up and hair is all one so yeah, over there please guys!" Liana yelped excitedly. We all went to the plain white back drop and stood around. "Right, so if we have Alex? Is that right?" I nodded, chuckling to myself. "Okay, if you stand in the centre. With..." Okay, she was struggling with Zack's name. "My name's..."

"Zack." Her friend said. Liana looked over at her. "His name's Zack, he plays bass. He's Rian, the drummer, Jack plays guitar and Alex..." She gulped. "He sings and plays guitar." I smiled at her, but she didn't smile back. "Thanks. I do know you're music, I really do, it's just, you know, so many bands so little time." I nodded and looked over at... Gracie, her name was? She was too busy with a smaller camera.

"Okay, pose for me." Liana said, smiling widely and getting behind her big ass camera.

*Grace POV*

Oh fuck. Oh fuck. Oh fuck. Oh fuck. Fuck my fucking life with a huge stick.