>>>>>Picture of Jeremy.
Chapter Five
People in my school often asked me, "How do you even know the members of Ever After?"
I couldn't really blame them for their curiosity since they never saw me hang out with them during the time they went to high school. But because Vincent and I were still best friends at the time, we constantly hung out together. Most of the times, he would make me come with him to do one of his little pranks against the seniors. My peers understood that connection I had with Ever After but they could never really understand what connection I had with the other members, Erik, Jeremy, and Matt. After all, those three were part of completely different cliques at the time. Erik was the star soccer player, Jeremy was deemed as an "emo" , and Matt, well, he was just Matt.
Vincent introduced me them during their rehearsal for a gig that they had in the local cafe. And it sort of became a ritual of ours for me to come and hear them play in Vincent's garage every other Saturday. They wanted to hear my opinions given the fact that I, myself, play the guitar and keyboard. As the weeks turned into months in that cramped garage, Erik, Matt, and Jeremy eventually became brothers to me.
That was my other connection I had with the famous band Ever After.
~~~~~~
"I'm hungry," Matt moaned.
Jeremy rolled his eyes while his hand went through his jet-black hair. "We just ate Burger King, Matt," he stated. "What the heck is wrong with you?"
Matt stretched his arm while accidentally bumping his elbow onto Jeremy's cheek. "I'm hungry," he repeated.
I couldn't help but laugh as I watched Matt lean against the window of the limo, not realizing the dirty look he was receiving from Jeremy. From where I was seated, I could tell that Jeremy wanted to punch Matt out but I don't think he would do such a thing given the fact that there were two girls in the same vehicle as him.
In front of us sat Erik who was flirting with Gracie that sat beside him.
Gracie was never much of a flirt but the way she giggled at the right moments, it would make any guy assume that she was. I let out a soft chuckle recalling the moments when Gracie had recently moved to Toronto and tagged along with me to Ever After's band rehearsals. She was quiet back then so she didn't really say much but now that she was older and more confident, I think she's taking up probably the only opportunity she might have to flirt with Erik Jackson.
"I like that blue streak in your hair," Jeremy said as he grabbed a lock of my hair. "Makes you look...rebellious."
I snorted. "Rebellious?" I gave Jeremy a meaningful look. "That's not me at all."
Jeremy smiled. "So how've you been?" He asked.
"I've been better." I looked at Jeremy who looked slightly concerned and I couldn't help but smile. During the time he was at high school, a lot of people made fun of him for wearing dark clothing and automatically assumed he was "heartless". But truth be told, that was the complete opposite of Jeremy. Out of the entire four members of the band Ever After, Jeremy was the sweetest one. And I must say, he's probably the one who was the least effected by the fame and fortune that came with being in a famous pop-rock band.
Jeremy softly laughed. "Senior year must be stressful, eh?" He nodded. "I kind of envy you for living the normal life. So what? Are you getting the highest average now that I'm officially gone?" He smirked at me and I punched him on the arm playfully.
Back then, Jeremy and I always had one of the top grades in our school. During those times, we sort of had an unspoken competition of who would get the highest grade at the end of each semester. But of course, Jeremy always seemed to win by one percent higher than me. This kind of aggravated me at the time given the fact that Jeremy didn't even try-- he was just naturally intelligent.
"And for your information, I am getting one of the highest grades in the school," I answered.
"Not for long," Jeremy replied with a grin. "Because I'm coming back to school starting next week."
I frowned. "Oh, right..."
Jeremy patted my head. "It's alright, Carson," he cooed. "Just because I'm smarter than you doesn't mean you should be sad."
"Vincent's cockiness is getting you," I chuckled as I swatted Jeremy's hand away from my head.
Jeremy made a face. "Really?"
"Really."
"I'm hungry!" Matt continued to moan. "God. I'm going to die of starvation."
Gracie smiled as she pulled out a granola bar from her bag and showed it to Matt. "This is all I have," she offered. "Do you want it?"
Matt narrowed his eyes at the granola bar. "What kind is it?" He asked slowly.
"Chocolate--"
Matt immediately got up and snatched the granola bar out of Gracie's hands. Erik and Jeremy gave him wide eyed looks as Matt started to chow down at the granola bar. "The least you could say is thanks," Jeremy said in disgust.
Matt nodded. "Thanks, Grace," he responded with his mouth full.
"Oh my god, Matt," Erik rolled his eyes. "Why must you be so embarrassing?"
"Why do you have to be such an ass?" Matt countered.
Erik gave him the look but Gracie laughed. "It's alright," she said. "I know how Matt is."
Erik scoffed. "Yeah," he agreed. "We all know Matt is just a hungry son of--"
"We're here!" Matt cried as he dropped the granola bar. "Thank the Gods! I'm so damn sleepy." The limo passed by a large building as it slowly went into the dark parking lot. Matt looked like a little kid ready to get out of the car as fast as possible.
Jeremy and I exchanged glances as we laughed.
Once the limo came to a complete stop, Matt was the first one to hop out of the limo and to the back of the vehicle to grab his suitcase and guitar. Then, it was Erik and Gracie who exited next. "Come on, Remy!" Erik teased. "Let's hurry up before people start coming down. No one is suppose to know we're here."
Jeremy rolled his eyes as he looked at me. "Two years I have to put up with these two including Vincent," he sighed. "I'm just glad to be back in Toronto."
When Erik, Jeremy, and Matt grabbed their belongings from the back of the limo, all five of us then headed to the elevator. "You need help?" I offered to Matt who was struggling carrying his guitar and suitcase.
Matt sighed. "I'm a man, Carson," he stated. "I can carry these two things just fine." Then, as if one cue, Matt tripped on his shoelaces causing him to drop everything in his hands.
Erik burst into laughter as the elevator door opened. "You're definitely a man," he responded sarcastically as Jeremy and I quickly helped Matt up.
Once all of us were in the elevator, I looked over to Jeremy. "Do you even know where you're going?" I asked.
Jeremy grinned. "I have good memory, Carson," he stated. "Of course, I know where I'm going."
Just as I was about to say something, the elevator stopped at the lobby and the three guys immediately pulled the hoods of their sweaters over their faces. Gracie and I looked at them in confusion. Why were they hiding their faces? Our question was answered when two high-class girls came walking into the cramped space of the elevator. They didn't seem to notice the guys standing behind us but they did shot Gracie and I dirty looks because we were wearing sweat pants. I did by best to not roll my eyes at them but when the elevator doors closed and their heads were faced in the other direction, Gracie stuck her tongue at them.
Erik snorted and the two girls turned their heads slightly. Erik immediately pulled his hood further down.
"You look familiar," one of the girls said slowly.
Erik coughed. "No, I don't," he said in a fake French accent.
Gracie and I bit our lips, trying hard not to laugh.
The girl narrowed her eyes at Erik. "But--"
Suddenly, the elevator stopped at the tenth floor. Jeremy gently pushed me forward. "Let's go," he hissed loudly.
All five of us made our way around the two girls as we dashed out of the elevator. Jeremy was the last one to get out and one of the girls pulled his sweater tightly causing his hood to fall off. Their eyes widened in shock as Jeremy's baby blue eyes stared at them. "It's Jeremy Link!" They cried. But before they could even touch him, the elevators shut tight.
I pulled on Jeremy's sleeve. "Let's go before they call up their rich friends," I said.
"Good idea," Jeremy agreed as all five us started to run down the corridor.
"What room?" Erik hissed loudly.
"Make a left," Jeremy answered.
It took another few minutes before we finally stopped at a door. Jeremy then pulled out a key from his pocket as he opened the door swiftly. I raised an eyebrow at him as everyone slipped into Vincent's condo. "What?" Jeremy asked with wide eyes.
I chuckled. "Why do you have the keys to Vincent's condo?"
Jeremy laughed. "Technically, it's mine," he answered.
"How?"
"Long story."
As we stepped into Vincent's condo, my mouth literally dropped opened. Everything looked so...beautiful. The entire room was lit by the large window that overlooked the busy streets of downtown Toronto. All the furniture looked quite expensive and unused. A chandelier hung up on the ceiling making the bright white room even brighter. I was speechless. I would have done anything to live in a place like this.
"Where's Vincent?" I whispered to the three guys.
Erik shrugged. He was about to open his mouth to call out Vincent's name but he was interrupted by a loud and angry voice. "You can't just force me to stay in a city like this!" The voice shouted from another room. "I'm seventeen and I pay for your stupid bills! I am an adult. Don't you think I should be able to decide on things myself?" There was a pause and everyone knew it was Vincent who was shouting on the phone. "So what? You're going to make me stay here in Toronto until my attitude changes? Well, excuse me, mother, if I'm not an angel like Anna." Another pause as my face dropped. "Fine. Yes. I'm on my way there now. And no, I do not know where Anna is. Yeah. Okay. Bye."
Once, Vincent was done ranting, I slapped my face with my hands. I was suppose to be getting ready for the dinner at Vincent's old place. Crap.
Suddenly, footsteps started to emerge and Vincent appeared in white collared shirt and black dress pants. At first, he didn't seem to notice us because of the fact that he was texting on his phone. But then, Vincent looked up and he nearly tripped over the couch. "Shit!" He put a hand to his chest. "What the heck are you guys doing here?" He looked at me with confusion. "Aren't you suppose to be at my old place by now?"
I scratched my head. "I forgot--"
"So why are you here...?"
"Jeremy and Erik invited Gracie and I over."
Vincent sighed as nodded towards Gracie. "Hey."
Gracie looked uncomfortable. "Should we leave...?"
Erik put his hand around Gracie. "Don't mind the douche over there," he said. "This is our place just as much as it is for him."
Vincent sighed. "It's alright," he said. "You can stay. But you," he pointed to me. "You're coming with me because we have dinner at my old place."
Matt chuckled. "Are you guys like dating now?" He asked.
"No!" Vincent and I said loudly in sync.
Everyone looked at Vincent and me with meaningful looks that made me turn bright red. "Fine. Let's go, Vincent. " I said changing the subject. "But how are you going to get home, Gracie?" I looked over to my friend.
"I've got it covered," Erik insisted. "I'll just borrow one of Vincent's many cars and I'll take Gracie out while Matt sleeps and Jeremy plays COD."
"Speaking of which," Matt said as he starts to walk away from us. "I've got to go sleep."
Jeremy nodded. "I'm just going to write another song," he said as he walks over to the grand piano.
"Sure. Whatever." Vincent walks towards me and gently pushes me forward. "Let's go before my mom throws a hissy fit at me again."
I rolled my eyes.
Just as Vincent and I reached the door, Erik cleared his throat. "Ugh, Vincent?" He said.
Vincent turned around. "What?"
"The keys to one of your cars?" Erik looked at Vincent like he was stupid.
Vincent groaned. "It's somewhere on the counter in the kitchen," he answered. "Now lets go, Anna--"
"Carson," I corrected grimly.
"Whatever."
"You're a jerk," I said as Vincent closed the door behind us.
"Whatever."
"You're dumb."
"Whatever."
"I'm going to come at you with twenty-one guns."
Vincent smirked slightly as he looked down onto me. "You do realize those aren't even lyrics to 21 Guns by Green Day, right?"
I just stared at him. "Obviously," I snapped. "But seriously, I will come at you with twenty-one guns."
"Whatever."