The Band And The Busker (All Time Low/Alex Gaskarth) *COMPLETED*

Kids in the Dark

Chapter Five: Kids in the Dark

2 WEEKS LATER

KARA

Two weeks had passed since I met All Time Low and got signed to Hopeless Records. And a lot had happened since then. I got a phone call off Louis Posen, the founder of Hopeless Records saying he was looking forward to having me on the label once I put a band together. I then found out I would have the same manager as All Time Low, which was awesome because it meant I could see the guys more.

Talking about the guys I'd been in touch with them almost every day, well everyone but Alex who barely spoke to me unless it was about my music career, kind of like he wanted to forget the night in the club. I thought he liked me, but maybe I was wrong, perhaps I needed to move on.

I felt like I could talk to Rian about my problems and he listened and gave excellent advice, Zack always knew what to say to make me feel better, and Jack was like my overprotective big brother who played crazy pranks and told perverted jokes. And I couldn't put my finger on what Alex was to me just yet.

Jack had rung earlier to tell me I would be riding with him to the airport, so I had to pack enough clothes for a few months, although Jack promised to buy me a whole new wardrobe suitable for the LA weather. To be honest, all my stuff was packed a week ago because I was so excited.

I'd gotten everything in order from telling my boss he'd have to hire someone else to fix instruments to telling my parents I was going to LA to start my music career. Of course, they wouldn't believe me until I released my first album and won at least one award. I needed to think about my future and not my past; LA was my future, and England was my past.

Dragging my suitcase onto the kerb outside my flat, I waited for Jack to arrive in the taxi. I pulled out my songbook and jotted down a few new song ideas just as the taxi pulled up in front of me and honked its horn. I glanced up and straight into the face of a grinning Jack who jumped out of the taxi and grabbed my suitcase.

'Let me get that for you, my lady.'

'Why thank you, kind sir.'

I climbed into the taxi and straightened my glasses before Jack jumped back in and put his arm around my shoulder and pulled out his phone and bought up the camera.

'Photo time Kara, say cheese.'

'Cheese.'

Jack and I took a few photos documenting the journey to the airport and had a great time doing so. Once we walked into the terminal, I was pulled away from Jack and engulfed by Rian, Zack and Alex, which earnt us some looks from passersby. We got our bags and checked in before deciding who was going to sit by who on the plane. Jack claimed Alex while Zack and Rian paired up, leaving me four rows back on my own. I wanted to talk to Alex, but Jack was doing a pretty good job of blocking me.

I had the window seat, which was my favourite seat on a plane because I loved watching the clouds and sky change colour. Someone sat down next to me while I had my songbook open on the small foldaway table in front of me. My phone pinged with a new message off Alex.

Alex: Sorry about Jack, he's strange. We need to talk about the club; I need to apologise for my actions

Kara: I'd like that Alex, now the air hostess is practically eye raping you x

Alex: She's not my type

Kara: Blonde was your type in the club...now turn your phone onto aeroplane mode Mr Gaskarth, flight safety and all x

I turned my phone off as the air hostess's started their pre-flight safety talk. The person sitting next to me tapped their painted black nails on my table, drawing my attention to meet the eyes of my seat neighbour. There was a girl around my age smiling at me, she had long black hair with blue tips and several piercings, with a sneaky tattoo poking out from beneath her shirt sleeve.

'Sorry for being nosey but you have some mad writing skills. What's the name of the song if you don't mind me asking?'

I glanced at the half-written lyrics from my latest ramblings and realised the song was about Alex being a douche a couple of weeks back.

'Probably Love-Hate Heartbreak to fit in with the first line of the chorus. But that's all I have and a few opening lines.'

The girl nods and taps her fingers on her legs before muttering the lyrics under her breath. She was counting out a beat which told me she played an instrument of sorts, possibly the drums.

'What do you play if you don't mind me asking? I'm Kara by the way.'

'Well Kara, I'm Dylan, and I play the drums. Well, I use to in my girlfriend's band with my brother Harry who plays bass, but my girlfriend cheated on me multiple times, so I left along with my brother because siblings stick together.'

She shook my outstretched hand, and I couldn't help but feel bad for her, but it seemed like her family were pretty musical and supportive compared to mine.

'I was a busker in London, I do have a brother, but he's a doctor like the rest of my family. I just got signed to Hopeless Records because Alex Gaskarth filmed me busking.'

'Yeah, I saw you getting on the plane with All Time Low. You seem cool Kara, here's my number. We should meet up sometime in LA, and maybe you can check out mine and my brother's skills.'

She took the pen from my hand and scribbled her number and Twitter name down in my notebook. After dropping the pen back into my open palm, she pulled out her phone and plugged in her headphones. Slipknot blasted out, and I instantly knew we'd be close friends.

Why do you waste my time? Two steps, I don't rewind Feeling I can't define I give back to you

Give it all away, take it all away Give it all away, take it all away

I see my demise From behind your eyes I can't pass you by I put back to you

Give it all away, take it all away x4

Between love, between hate

I found myself tapping my pen in frustration as lyrics escaped me. This song was about love, but I'd never been in love before, so I was blind. I'd had stupid crushes, but they always ended up leaving me for someone else.

'Between love, between hate. Shake the silence back, but it's too late, and it haunts you, and it haunts you. It's a love-hate heartbreak.'

I had my chorus, it was rough, but while I was in my writing zone, I just had to write everything down no matter how small.

'This could be suicide, a kiss with these red knives. Why am I travelling by? I give back to you. Try on one full size; I thought boys don't cry. You're my perfect lie, back to you,' I sang under my breath.

'That didn't take you too long, just half the flight. Now I'm going to play the mum card and make you eat something before forcing you to get some sleep,' Dylan speaks up.

I jumped slightly at Dylan's hand on my arm. The sky had turned a salmon pink; it was blue when we had taken off. Dylan closed my songbook and put a tray of food in front of me.

'I ordered the soup, as I didn't know what you liked Kara.'

A bowl of what looked like tomato and basil soup was in front of me along with a bread roll and a bottle of water. I'd been so used to fending for myself that it felt nice that Dylan, although a stranger cared for me.

'Thanks, Dylan, after living on my own I forgot what it is like to have another person do something nice for me.'

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and smiled warmly at me before shrugging her shoulders; she liked to smile, 'I won't push you to talk Kara. Hey, how long are you in LA for?'

And that's how we spent the next two hours, just getting to know each other until the final hour of the flight when Dylan made me take a power nap. The more I got to know about her and her taste in music, the more I could see myself working with her. Plus you didn't get many female drummers, which was a shame since Dylan seemed to be passionate about the craft. I just needed to hear her play, but I had a gut feeling I'd already found my drummer.