Say This Sooner -A7X One Shot

“Antonia, chop chop! Hurry up and get it done already!” Jason Berry quickly walked by as I helped unload some of the guy’s equipment out of the trailer and onto the stage.

I snapped my head in his direction. “Don’t clap at me Berry. I’m doing the best job I can, and I don’t need your help telling me otherwise!” He laughed and continued to walk away.

I rolled my eyes and went back to lifting up a piece of Jimmy’s drum set out of the trailer, but then I realized the damn thing was just way too heavy for me to pick up on my own. I sighed and gently set it back down.

That’s when I heard Zacky walking over to stand next to me. “Awe, poor shorty can’t even pick up a little drum head all by herself. Do you need me to get the midget, Johnny to do it for you?” He basically insulted me.

I scoffed and threw a glare back up at him. “Shut it Baker. Berry’s giving me enough hell as it is today.”

“Which one, Jason or Matt?” He asked about the twins.

I huffed. “Who do you think? Jason, of course. Besides, you and I both know Johnny can pick up that thing just as easily as I can.” We both laughed. “And how come I don’t see you lending a hand and helping out?” I questioned him.

He shrugged and lit up a cigarette. “Because, I'm not a roadie, I’m in the band. So that means all I have to do is stand around and watch you struggle as I smoke this cigarette.”

"That and just keep on looking pretty." Brian said, coming up from behind me and made jump at the sound of his voice in my ear. "Ain't that right, Zacky V?"

I chuckled and rolled my eyes. "Guitar players," I mumbled to myself.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Brian raised an eyebrow at me.

I tried not to smile and pretended to be clueless. "What do you mean? I didn't say anything."

Zacky smirked, letting out a puff of smoke and handed the cigarette to Brian. "Oh, I think you did. Now, what was that about…guitar players, did you say?" I quickly shook my head but it was too late, he had already lunged himself at me.

"Wait, no!" I laughed as he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. I let out a scream as he began to spin me around in circles, making me completely dizzy. "Zacky, fucking put me down!" I shouted, hitting on his back.

He laughed and slowed down, and just in time for me to see Jimmy trying to sneak his way over here with that famous crooked smile of his, which only meant one thing, that he was up to no good. I definitely tried to get free after that because right then, Jimmy picked me up and began to run around with me still on his shoulder like the maniac he is.

"Damn it put me down Jimmy!" I yelled, trying to fight my way free, but he was just too strong for me.
I hated being picked up, and they all knew that. I was happy with being only 5"2 and did not want to be lifted up into the air higher than my own height, and Jimmy's shoulder definitely went past my head.

He laughed and held onto my legs even tighter as I tried to kick. "Quit fighting Ani. You know you like being swept off your feet.”

I growled and shook my head even though he couldn't see it. "This isn’t exactly what I had in mind, Jimmy, especially if it's a giant who picks me up! You know I hate being more than 3 feet off the ground. Now drop me right this instant!”

Brian clicked his tongue and shook his head at me. “Uh-oh, poor choice of words Antonia.”

I looked up at him confused. “Wait, what do you mea-”

Before I could finish my sentence, Jimmy let my legs go and dropped me just far enough to let my face fall and smack his ass, but before I could fall completely, he quickly grabbed onto me again.

“Jimmy!” I screamed, afraid he was really going to drop me on my head. He laughed and finally stayed still. I looked up at Zack and Brian. “Will someone please help me here?”

That’s when I heard Matt speaking. “Jimmy, put her down. You know she doesn’t like that.”

Jimmy quickly spun around to see him and sighed, setting me down on my feet. He always knew when to listen to Matt as he used his stern voice.

As soon as I was back on the ground and all of the blood had rushed back out of my head, I reached up and smacked him on the arm. He hardly even flinched and continued to laugh.

“What the hell, Jimmy? You know better than to do that! Now I’m all dizzy.” I said, trying to keep my balance as I walked over to stand next to Matt and Johnny for protection after they both came from backstage.

“Oh come on, Ani. You know you like it when I hold you like that.” He winked.

All I could do was roll my eyes and try not to laugh. “So you gonna stay here with the roadies and help finish setting up, or do you want to come back stage with us?” Matt teased. He knew what my answer was going to be.

“Hmm…let me think. Which is the better option? Hang out with a bunch of losers, or…finish setting the stage?” I teased back, tapping my chin.

He scoffed, and I knew he thought I was going to call the roadies losers but I switched it around on him. I laughed.

“Oh, I know.” I said, right before playfully pushing him into Johnny as hard as I could before taking off running in the direction of the dressing rooms.

They all laughed as he came chasing after me. “Get back here Antonia! You know I can chase you down!”

“Ha! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!” I laughed, quickly looking back at him to see him trailing very close behind.

I made a quick, sharp turn around a corner to try to lose him, making my way through the maze of halls behind the stage. I was just several feet away from the door of one of the dressing rooms when he finally caught me and swooped me up in his arms.

“No, put me down!” I laughed, trying to wriggle free from his grip.

He chuckled and I could feel the low vibration against his chest as he held me. “Never,” He growled in my ear.

I suddenly relaxed and became calm again. Why was it that every time I was this close to Matt, my heart just seemed to stop? Whenever we were alone, I could no longer act like my crazy, always hyperactive self. Just looking into his hazel eyes seemed to slow my heart rate, and when he looked back at me, I would just melt.

What was it about Matt that made me feel this way? I've never felt like this before, not with anyone. I have never known what love was like, to be in love. I never found it. Was I in love with Matt?

I couldn’t be. He was one of my best friends. I’ve known him and the rest of the guys since middle school, before they became a famous rock band. Before they were ever popular, were loved, and infatuated over by a million fans. So why were my feelings starting to change now?

I guess I've always thought of Matt as cute, even adorable I might say, but it was never anything more than that, but then earlier this year, my feelings began to grow for him. What was it that made me want him so much now?

He laughed, as I no longer began to fight him and walked into the room before setting me down on one of the couches. Would I ever be able to tell him how I felt? If I did, could it affect our friendship in ways that would put it all to an end? It really wasn’t worth losing one of my best friends, so maybe I should just keep my mouth shut.

I was going to be left with the question of how he felt about me, but it was worth the pain of not knowing than if he rejected me and our friendship would result in bad terms. Either way, I was going to have to suffer in silence until he made a move, that is, if he ever does…

Notes