FicWad

Chapter Seven: Daytripping

Jill sat gazing at the computer screen in front of her, it was 3pm with the deadline for her article being 5pm. She had written, deleted then rewritten and finally she was ready to let someone else read it.

"Jus, could you read this through for me before I tread the valley of death?"

Justin pushed back from his desk and turned round to look at her, "Sure, if you'll have a quick look at mine."

"Of course," Jill said standing up and exchanging the papers, "I need you to be brutally honest with it."

Justin smirked, "I think you know me well enough not to doubt me on that score."

Jill watched as he turned away from her and began to read her article. This was the bit she hated, her first reaction was always to try and get it back but this time she sat nervously biting her nails and watching the slight movement of his head as he read it.

"Jill will you stop watching me and read my stuff." Justin said without turning round.

Jill paused slightly stunned that he knew what she was doing, "How did you, I mean I am reading your article."

"Eyes in the back of my head plus you are so predictable,"Justin replied, "Oh I see you asked Bob the first question."

"What are you insinuating?"

"Nothing," he said turning and smiling at her, "Nothing at all."

"Shut up and read doughboy." Jill said hitting him with a rubberband.

Jill loved the way Justin wrote, there was no pretentiousness about his writing, it flowed so well and always got straight to the point. Justin always received good reviews from the readers on the website and it meant a lot to Jill that he even asked for her opinion. Mind you he could not spell, well he could but in his world the spellchecker was the girl currently reading his article. Jill quickly worked through his piece, carefully changing the spelling mistakes and adding punctuation which was also not his strongest point. Occasionally she would glance up to see him circling pieces of her work. The nerves were seriously starting to effect her as she waited for him to finish.

"Well? She asked as she noticed him lean back and put his pen on his desk.

"No you first, what did you think?"

Jill wouldn't let him see her frustration because she knew he loved to see her squirm, "You know it's good, there's a few typo errors that I've circled for you and I don't understand why you won't just spellcheck it like every other normal person."

Justin smirked,"I hate the spellchecker on these things, it changes words and stuff wohout you even realising and then the thing is ruined, "he informed her, "Plus I don't need it with having you to read it."

"Well?" Jill asked impatiently nodding towards the papers on his desk.

"What?" Justin replied faking innocence.

"Jus, please."
"Fine," Justin said pulling his chair to her desk.

"Oh god, is it that bad?"

Justin laughed, "Relax Jill, I really like it but you could tweak it here and there to let it flow better and you've missed out loads of the stuff about the aftershow party."

"I'm writing about their music, what inspires them not their personal life, this ain't heat magazine." Jill laughed. The Heat magazine thing had been a long standing joke between them.

"So high and mighty." Justin replied.

"Shut up, you're the one that moans non-stop about the, wait how did you put it, oh yes the emonisation and celebritisation of the magazine, "Jill said hardly containing her laughter, "Now who's up their own arse?"

"Hey I thought you guys had a deadline?"

Jill looked away from Justin to see Ruth grinning at them both, "We do but Justin here thinks my article is shit."

"I do not, it's good Jill" Justin replied playfully shoving her away from him.

"Wait, did you just say my article was good?" Jill asked.

"I think he did Jill." Ruth added, "Metal head here said that an article about My Chem was good."

"He does have a soft spot for them though." Jill said to Ruth rubbing her hand through his hair.

"Hey keep your voice down." Justin said looking round him which made the two girls laugh.

"You two, do you have the stuff I need?"

Jill watched as Ruth so casually scurried away from them as Neil, their sub-editor, stood before them.

"Mine's all done." Justin smirked oh so smuggly at her as he handed his article over.

Jill shot him a look and then turned her attention to Neil, "I've just to make a couple of changes then it's good to go."

"Get it done Jill." Neil snapped at her as he turned on his heels to snap at the other writers who also had things to contribute.

Justin looked at her as she turned her attention back to her computer, "You want a hand?"

"No."

Jill typed away making the changes that Justin had suggested and a big smile broke out on her face and she finally sent it to print. "All done." She proclaimed.

"Does that mean you are no longer pissy?" Justin asked, "Can I come out of the bunker?"

Jill looked over at him, "I'm really sorry Jus, I didn't mean to be well you know."

"Well get it handed in and let's go for something to eat, the night is young and we have 3 glorious days to spend at Reading."
"I'll say to Ruth." Jill replied as she went to the printer.


4 Days Later - Reading Festival

"I don't want to get up, can I not just get another 5 minutes?" Jill cried pitifully from her bed.

"Jill honey, you've been saying that for the last 30 minutes," Justin said trying to pull the covers from her tight grip, "Now get your lazy arse out of that bed or I'm gonna leave you here."

Jill moaned dramatically as she let Justin pull the covers off her. She slowly sat up and brought her legs around the side of bed, "this is you fault letting me drink that beer."

"Oh right, it's my fault that you drank beer because of course I held it up to your mouth and forced it down". Justin replied rolling his eyes, "Right come on."

Justin held out his hands as she reached out for him and he pulled her up. She slowly stood up and he gently pushed her towards the shower, "You are a sad sad individual Jilly."
He watched her for a moment as she sat down on the toilet, "For god sake, do I have to strip you myself?"

"Eh?" Jill asked not even registering what he said.

"I said if you don't move I'm gonna strip you myself."

"Pervert." Jill replied shoving him out the door and closing.

Justin sighed, "Jill if I don't hear you in the shower in the next 2 minutes I'm coming in there."

Jill pulled her head back from the door and cursed the fact he knew her too damn well. She slowly removed her clothes and slipped into the piping hot shower. She smiled to herself as the water flowed down her back and she thought of all the souls camping in the tents with no access to a shower. She had been there done that and now she could enjoy the simple luxury of hot water.

"10 minutes and I'm leaving," Justin yelled as he shouted at the bathroom door.

"I'm coming." Jill shouted back as she unlocked the door and into her room. She glanced out of the window, "Why can't it just be sunny?". She quickly changed and dried her hair before pulling it up into a ponytail. She could hear Justin impatiently opening his door and sighing. Jill grabbed her waterproof jacket and her sunglasses, "there's always the hope," Jill sighed to herself.

"I can't believe it's the last day of the festival already." Jill said as they walked towards the festival site.

"I could do this everyday for the rest of my life." Justin replied.

Jill knew he was in his element here just listening to music all day and watching emerging bands. He had moved on from staying in a tent all weekend and now the magazine paid for his bed and breakfast all was great in world.

"You doing the main stage today?" Justin asked.

"If you want but I thought you wanted to see Slayer and Pearl Jam?" Jill replied.

"Well I'll cover them and you do the other stages?"

"Okay," Jill said checking over the playlists.

Justin looked at her and smirked a bit knowing full well that MCR were playing between Slayer and Pearl Jam. The magazine sent a number of writers to cover the festival with the provision they each tried to see different acts. "Hey I was hoping to catch a couple of bands in the smaller tents just after Slayer so if you want to cover the main stage then."

"Okay," Jill replied once more.

"You okay watching My Chem again." Justin asked not taking his eyes of her as he knew too well she was innocently avoiding the topic.

"That's fine." Jill replied joining the end of the queue.

"Or you could watch The Kooks." Justin said trying to get a reaction.

"I could but it's probably best someone covers the main stage."

"You're right," Justin replied,"Oh come on Jill you don't need any excuse."

Jill stopped and looked at him, "Look I like My Chemical Romance okay, I admit it and you know something I don't feel one bit embarrased about it unlike your good self."

Justin looked around to see people staring at them and laughing, "Jeez Jill, there's no need to do a Maria Von Trapp moment when there's so many people around."

"A Maria Von Trapp."

"You know standing at the top of a mountain yelling." Justin replied.

"Oh god you rip me because of my taste in music but you're quoting a musical." Jill replied laughing hard as they got their tickets and wristbands checked.

Justin was so pleased to see her laughing again even if it was at his expense.



-----------Later that morning------------

Jill looked at the playlist again as she walked back to the press area, she loved her work but it was as frustrating as hell when you had to sit in a packed room squabbling with journalists when all you really wanted to do was be outside listening to music. She suddenly felt herself being hit by something and slowly falling backwards.

"For fuck sake watch where you're going?" she instantly responded as she found herself sitting on the ground trying to look at the person who had knocked her over.

"Look I'm really sorry, I was rushing to get somewhere."

"Aren't we all," Jill replied accepting the hand held out to her.

"Jill?"

"Uh?" Jill asked wiping the hair away from her face and instantly freezing, "Bob?"

They both stood there for a moment just staring at each other before Jill realised she was looking like an idiot again, "How are you?" she asked then instantly wishing she has said something else far wittier or even less obvious. God why did she always act like a moron.

"I'm fine but are you okay I hit you quite hard." He asked.

Jill smiled at him, "I'm okay honestly."

"Well I have to go to a press thing." Bob said feeling a bit better knowing he hadn't hurt her.

"You look tired." Jill remarked

Bob returned her smile, "You should see the other guys, I think we're all running on adrenalin."

"Have a good time out there it can be a bit rough." Jill replied, "But somehow I think you'll be okay."

Bob just laughed, "See you Jill."

Jill watched as he began to run again towards the tent she herself was going to.

"Oh shit, if he's running then I'm late" Jill suddenly blurted out as she quickly ran towards the tent. Jill managed to squash herself into the back of the tent as the press conference started and she had just about enough room to take some notes before she was off again to watch Taking Back Sunday on the main stage.


---------------Later that Day----------------

Jill saw Justin in front of her at their prearranged meeting place.

"Hey sweet cheeks, having a good time?" Justin asked as he watched her approach.

"Great and you?" Jill asked as he put his arm around her shoulders.

"Brilliant, Bullet were a bit crap but Slayer were good." Justin replied taking another drink.

"Hey you were getting at me for drinking beer and I think you've had a quite a few today." Jill said taking his plastic cup from him.

"Okay Mum, give us it back."

Jill sipped from his cup and handed it back to him.

"Hey little emo you better run off before your wee band come on." Justin said pointing to the stage as he noticed the My Chem back of the stage banner going up.

"Jus, I swear one day when you're sleeping I'm going get that very banner tatooed on your back." Jill replied, "You love them despite how much you deny it."

Justin laughed as he watched her go off to join the crowd that was gathering in front of the main stage, "Hey Jill."

Jill turned as she heardhim shouting at her, "Keep your hood up."

"Eh, why?" Jill replied slightly puzzled.

"You'll see." He laughed back.

Jill had managed to bag herself a spot with the magazine's photographer and other press photographers.

"Thanks Jeff," Jill said appreciating the effort he had gone to, to get the spot.

"No problem, just toss me a card for the camera when I shout at you, I've nearly finished this one." Jeff replied handing her his bag full of equipment and random junk. Jill nodded and crouched down in a corner as she waited for MCR to come on. This was going to be a testing crowd and she couldn't understand why the organisers had put them on after Slayer. It was almost like slashing someone's legs and throwing them in with a bunch of sharks. She could see a number of MCR fans had braved the crowd to get to the front and she could hear them giving the jumped up Slayer fans an earful. The usual pleasantries were being exchanged with the word emo being used a lot and oh yes her personal favourite faggot. She sighed and rolled her eyes to Jeff as they both listened to the chants. Jill couldn't understand why some people would bother staying to watch a band that they clearly hated only to spend the time and effort chanting shit and causing trouble. However the MCR fans were not giving up and she knew the band would be the same. Ruth had told her that they had conquered Leeds and had turned the crowd but they both agreed Reading would be different. Jill called over the security guard.

"Hey, do you not think you should be watching out for the people at the front?" Jill asked him as she pointed to the MCR fans.

"We'll pull them out if there's any trouble." He replied.

"Do you not think it should be the morons causing the trouble that should be yanked out?" Jill replied with a hint of venom in her voice.

"Listen, that would just cause more trouble and anyway should you be in here?"

Jill rolled her eyes it was clear she wouldn't be getting anywhere with this guy. The crowd suddenly erupted as the band started to take the stage. Jill could only watch with a mixture of horror and rage as what seemed like hundreds of bottles flew towards the stage. They crashed off the stage, some hitting the security people, the press and the fans at the front.

"Bloody hell," Jill shouted to noone in particular as she watched the scene unfold in front of her. Some of the bottles were full with water and others well it was pretty obvious what some were full of all. The bottles were still flying in as MCR started to play, Jill had seen bottlings before but those were minor compared to what was going at here. As the number of bottles being thrown started to fall they were replaced by whatever the idiots could their hands on like apples and even golf balls. Jill watched as the band continued to play and she smiled as the five guys looked like nothing was going to stop them playing. Gerard stomped about on the stage not making any effort to avoid the debris and even Mikey seemed to be taking everything in his stride. Despite everything she could hear the majority of the crowd singing along and cheering.

"Jill another card?" Jeff asked.

Jill delved into the bag and pulled out another card throwing it over to him. She looked back at the stage and watched Frank who seemed to be in some sort of trance. It was as if his guitar was part of him and even when he wasn't playing his fingers were poised over the strings just waiting, no begging to start again. Jill loved watching people play and her eyes glanced over to Ray, then Mikey and finally Bob. Bob was in his element, head down, his arms moving rapidly across the drums before him. Jill brought out her notebook and scribbled away furiously before putting it back in her bag.

"Jill pass me a flash, god damn thing just blew on me." Jeff shouted over.

Jill smiled and delved into the bag once again to get the flash, she threw it to him and he disguarded the old one. "This must be what is mean't by any other duties in my job description" she thought to herself as she slowly moved back to her place. Suddenly Jill found herself falling forward as something heavy struck her on the forehead. She instictively put her hand out in front of her to brace her fall as she fell hard on the ground. The only word uttered was a deliberate, "Fuck." She reached up to her head and winced, "damn it," she muttered as she brought her hand back to see her own blood.

"Miss, miss, are you okay?"

Jill looked up to see a security guard and accepted his hand as he pulled her up. "We have a first aid station round the back." She could feel herself getting slightly dizzy and nodded to him as he ushered her around the corner. The guard quickly scooped her up and carried her over to the tent.

"Thank you," Jill whispered as he left her on a bench. Jill looked round to see other people being treated for similar wounds and for being slightly worst for wear due to drink.

"Is it okay if I go outside I need some fresh air?" Jill asked a passing first aider.

"You shouldn't really until you've been checked." The man responded, "Go on but take this, I'll let them know where you are."

Jill wandered outside with the ice pack the man had given her and found a bench to perch on. She could tell the band had finished as the noise had died away only to be replaced by slight shrieking from the first aid tent. As much as people gave them flak they did care about their fans and this was obvious by how quickly they had come to check on them in the first aid tent. Jill noticed Gerard come out of the tent accompanied by Frank and his limp had become much more pronounced.

"You alright Gerard?" Jill asked weakly as she placed the bag of ice against her head.

Gerard looked over at her and she noticed the first genuine smile she had seen him give her since they had met. "I'll be okay but you're the one sitting with a huge bump on their head."

"Just a scratch," Jill replied, "If I'd known I'd need protection to watch you guys I would have come better prepared."

Jill suddenly stopped as she watched Frank burst out laughing.

"What are you like 5 or something?" Ray said slapping Frank over the back of the head, "Ignore this guy Jill, his mind is permanently in the gutter."

"I mean't protection in like body armour Frank." Jill replied as she pulled the ice bag away to let the paramedic look at her head. She let out a sharp breath as the paramedic looked at the cut.

"You don't need stiches but it will bruise." The paramedic told her, "I'll put some paper stiches over it to help seal the cut."

"Okay, thank you." Jill replied pleased that she didn't need to go to the hospital. Her attention was soon distracted as she watched Gerard hobble away from the fans he had been speaking to.

"Did you get hit on the leg?" Jill asked him as he sat beside her.

"I hurt my leg when we were shooting a video, actually Frank hurt my leg."

Frank turned round to face them when he heard his name, "What you saying about me now?"

Gerard laughed out loud, "Just telling Jill how you tried to paralyse me."

"It was an accident, how many times do I have to apologise?" Frank replied throwing his arms in the air dramatically. "Anyway you're not following what the doctor told you to do."

"What do you mean?" Jill asked amused at their conversation.

"Well Jill, Gerard here is supposed to be taking it easy and using crutches when he walks but oh no he just won't do it." Frank replied as he sat down beside them and placed his arm around his friend.

"Yeah Frank because I would have looked so good up there with a pair of crutches." Gerard replied sarcastically.


They quietened as the paramedic came back and placed the paper stiches across her cut. Jill thanked her once again.

"I better be going," Jill said, "Justin will think I've fallen drunk somewhere."

"You sure you are okay?" Frank asked.

"Hey Jill,"

Jill turned to see Jeff coming out of the first aid tent, "I was wondering what had happened, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just a wee bump." Jill replied.

"Let me help you get out of here." Jeff said taking her arm.

Jill sighed feeling like a damsel in distress, "I'm okay really Jeff but I could do with something to eat."

"Let's go then." He said.

"See you later Jill." Frank said, "Stay away from the flying missiles."

"Or stay away from us, we should come with a health warning." Gerard added.

"I'll remember that one, thanks guys." Jill replied smiling then wincing as it hurt.

Gerard pulled up his trouser leg to inspect his leg and noticed a lovely big bruise starting to form where something had hit him.

"That'll be a corker." Frank replied.

"Great." Gerard responded rubbing it softly. "I'm so fucking angry about today."

"I know but in a way I loved it, we've worked so fucking hard to get where we are and we have more heart in one fucking bead of sweat than most of those people have in their entire bodies" Frank replied.

Gerard looked at Frank, "Did you see the fans getting beat up in the audience and when I saw Jill going down it was like something clicked in me. I was so angry but the fans didn't give up and that's what we're about man. We ain't ever giving up and those bastards can just bring it on."

"Too right." Frank agreed and then nodded towards Mikey and Bob as they emerged from the first aid tent.

"You okay Mikes?" Gerard asked aware that his brother found it difficult speaking to fans.

"I'm fine; just wish we didn't have to make sure our fans were okay, that was fucking mental out there." Mikey replied.

"You know the writer we met last week, Jill she got a sore one." Gerard informed his brother, "We've just been speaking to her out here."

"Jill was here?" Bob asked as he zoned in to their conversation.

"Did you not see?" Frank replied.

"What do you mean?"

"Jill got struck by something and she was here getting treated." Gerard told him.

"Was she alright?" Mikey asked as he removed his jacket and sat down beside his brother.

"She's got a nasty bump but she's fine." Frank replied noticing Bob seemed more than a little concerned for the girl in question.

"Hey Brian," Ray said as he noticed Brian had finally caught up with them.

"You guys all sorted; did you get to meet the fans that were hurt?" Brian asked checking over each of the guys.

"All done." Mikey replied.

"Cars here, we need to be going." Brian said, "Hey Gerard that leg giving you bother again?"

"Its fine, some fucker managed to hit me on it but it's fine." Gerard replied.

"Bob, you holding up okay?" Brian asked aware that Bob's leg had also been giving him trouble lately.

"I'm fine."

"Just pining?" Frank whispered to the drummer out of earshot of everyone else.

"Shut the fuck up Frank." Bob snapped slapping Frank only to be confronted by Frank with the cheekiest grin on his face.




Another chapter and not such a long wait for this one - hurrah. Thanks again for the lovely reviews, it means so much to know that you are taking the time to read my story but also to review/rate it. I'm so amazed people actually like what I'm writing - thank you so much. Let me know if you don't agree with how I'm writing the guys as I'm no expert and I'd hate to get it wrong.