After turning the car off, I sat in the driveway for a moment and rested my head against the wheel. It was three in the morning, I still had to drag my drunk mother in the house and try to get some sleep before I pick up Troy at seven.

“Yeah that’s not gonna happen.” I said to myself.

I sighed deeply and forced myself out of the car and walked around to the passenger side.

“Mom, wake up.” I said as I shook her shoulder.

She mumbled something I couldn’t make out and snuggled into the seat. I rolled my eyes and shook her harder.

“Mom come on, let’s go in the house.” I told her.

She groaned and swung her legs out of the car. I took her arms and pulled her the rest of the way out and half carried her to the door.

“I just want to sleep.” She groaned. I sighed as I fished my keys from my pocket and unlocked the door.

“I know, just a few more steps and we’re in.” I said as I pushed the door open.

Mom pushed away from me and stumbled to the couch. Within seconds she was passed out and snoring. I shook my head and glanced up at the clock.

3:30. I was feeling really nasty by then so I decided to take a shower.

I went upstairs to the bathroom and closed the door behind me. I smiled to myself as I started the water. The shower is my favorite place in my whole house. I feel like all of my stress and problems just melt away was the hot water crashes down around me. Normally, I try not to think of anything in the shower and just try and enjoy it, but tonight was different.

For some reason, all I could think about was Zacky Vengeance. Personally, I think he’s the sexiest guy in the band, and to think that I had one hour alone with him and all he wanted to do was talk! It was driving me crazy. As I washed the filth from my body, his face kept coming to my mind.

“Get a grip Kyle, you’ll never see him again.” I said to myself.

When the water ran cold, I turned it off and stepped out of the shower and dried off. By now, it was a little after four am. I sighed and went downstairs to make some coffee. There was no way I was going to be able to sleep, I had to pick Troy up in three hours so I just decided to force myself awake. After downing two cups of coffee, I decided to burn off some energy and go for a run.

The sun was just coming up and it was a little bit chilly so I pulled on a hoodie and put my headphones in my ears and started jogging. Well what do you know, the first song to come on was ‘Bat Country’. I smiled and shook my head and jogged down the street. Before I knew it, I was at the local Starbucks. I shrugged and went inside. Hey, a girl’s gotta eat right?

The barista was looking less awake than I was and I’ve been up all night. I took a breath and walked up to the counter.

“Hi.” She said sleepily. I smiled at her.

“Hey, can I get one of those giant cookies please?” I asked. She nodded slowly and bent down to get me a cookie.

“Anything else?” She asked. Man it was like it was killing her to be alive right now. It was only 5 am, come on now.

“Nope, that’s it.” I said as I fished my money from my shoe.

“3.50.” She said.

“I got it.” I heard from behind me.

I snapped my head up and saw a man standing behind me. He was wearing shorts and a black t-shirt. His arms were covered in tattoos and then I saw his face. Well what do you know, it was Zacky Vengeance. Just my luck right?

Before I could protest, Zacky stepped in front of me and smiled.

“And add on a large black coffee please.” He said, the smile never leaving his face.

I took my cookie and broke off a piece of it.

“Thanks.” I said to him. He nodded and took his coffee.

“No problem. You’re up early huh?” He said as we walked out of the building.

I rolled my eyes.

“You have to have been to bed to be up early don’t you?” I said. Zacky raised his eyebrow and I smiled.

“I guess so.” He said.

“The question is, why are you up early?” I said to him as I broke off another piece of cookie.

Zacky chuckled and shrugged.

“We’re doing some studio work and I decided to go for a jog.” He said.

I smiled and finished off my cookie and looked at my phone. Yikes. It was really close to seven and I still had to pick up Troy.

“Well Zacky, thanks for the cookie but I gotta get going.” I said and I started jogging away.

“Hey wait!” Zacky called after me. I sighed and turned around.

“Can you tell me your name now?” He said with a smile. I smiled back and jogged back over to him.

“Kyle.” I said, and then I took off towards Shawna’s.