Street Adventures (Repost)

Never in my life would I have imagined sleeping on streets to see a band… or to buy tickets for a concert a year early. Even during the height of my Jonas Brothers obsession back in middle school and early high school, the craziest thing I had ever done was go to the box office of the Gibson Amphitheater at 3 a.m…

Oh, how times have changed. My sister and her friends, and of course, myself and my other friend, Tuesday, decided we would sleep on the streets of Hollywood and Inglewood for 5 Seconds of Summer.

I probably had 10 minutes of sleep.. MAX… per night because I was too paranoid that we were going to get molested or have our stuff stolen.

Day 1: Hollywood Rendezvous.

We arrived on the streets behind The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood for Jimmy Kimmel at around 12:30 am. I honestly did not expect more than 10 people in line… apparently my judgement was wrong because there were probably a good 25 people in front of us. My friend co-owns and runs a pretty successful 5SOS update account and she had an insider already lined up in spot for Jimmy Kimmel. We were scouting the area before going there, and we did not expect that many people to be there already. Nevertheless, after showing up, and asking the insider earlier to save us a spot, when we arrived, we decided that since we were a big group, that we would just head to the back of the line as it was unfair for people that physically arrived before us to be behind us as we weren’t physically there before. So, the camp out began.

At around 1:30 a.m, there was a drunk guy with a guitar who kept on trying to make conversations with the girls around us. He kept on saying the most ridiculous things, and calling himself an anarchist and how he was raised in Inglewood. It was around 2 a.m when another passerby decided to take on the man, and had an almost fight. I quote, “Leave these ladies alone, or IMMA CUT YOU.” I kid you not. And this was happening right in front of us. The passerby left, and the man only left us alone when one of the girls said, “WE’RE LESBIANS. OKAY.” And it was the one of the most hilarious things I have ever seen in my life, because the man left us alone. We finally called the police, and they told us that it was a good thing we told the man that we batted for the other team because that was the only reason as to why he left us alone.

Another quarrel happened between me and my sister’s contest winner’s friend. Needless to say, we are never ever making a contest and having people from other states come and then ditch us.

I am not afraid to call people out, especially if I am never going to see them ever again. That is all I have to say on that matter.

It was safe to say, that that day was one of the days where I regretted wearing an all black outfit. The sun was scorching hot, and I am pretty sure that a lot of people were sun burnt and were dehydrated.

PEACE OUT. GIRL SCOUT.

FLASH FORWARD TO THE CONCERT.

It was amazing… but…. I fell.. not once, but twice. After the last song, 5SOS decided to throw drumsticks, and their towels. And I have never experienced a throng full of people carrying you like a tide to catch something. It was an experience I will never forget. I almost had a panic attack… TWICE. But, I fell twice…

And had a small cut… and was crippled for a good 3 days…

CRIPPLED.

DAY 2: The Forum, Inglewood.

My friends and I got there at 9:30 p.m after trying to find parking. THE FORUM is huge, and the parking lot is TITANIC. I’m pretty sure we were the first 150 people. And I’m glad we actually made friends with people behind us, and almost got into a fight with a mum who insisted she wasn’t cutting…

10 HOURS LATER at around 6:30 a.m, they decided to start moving us, and the waiting game continued.

It was all worth it because we met them. YES. We’ve met the band a couple of times, but only in pairs, or just ASHTON. I think I’ve met Ashton a total of 3 times? But… while meeting them, I was still crippled. And it wasn’t going to go unnoticed. After standing on just one of my legs, and having both legs battered, it was all worth it when we actually met them.

Ashton I think remembered us because when I said my name, a look of recognition was splattered on his face. Maybe because my sister and her friends keeps on meeting him alone, and they actually got a birthday video for me for my 21st birthday back in April.

Calum, Calum, Calum… He thought my name was Amy. I mean, looking back to it now, I wouldn’t blame him because of Ashton’s handwriting, but I was pretty sassy that day. He said, “Hi Amy.” And I proceed to reply with, “My name’s April. Not Amy.” At least he apologized. (Fun fact: I’ve been having Calum dreams. Maybe there’s some Calum suppression going on.)

LUKE. I have never seen bluer eyes in my life. I told him that I was crippled because of them at Jimmy Jimmel. I admit, I stuttered for abit, because HELLO. LUKE HEMMINGS. But, I pulled myself together and told him my story. He was sincerely sorry, and it was etched in his face. MICHAEL, then decided to listen in because Tuesday, my friend who was in front of me, was done talking to him. He too looked sincerely sorry. I’m pretty sure my heart melted because of how much they cared for their fans. And they actually looked like they wanted to do something, but couldn’t because security was hurrying us up. Luke looked like he wanted to get out of his chair to help me while I limp away.

ALL IN ALL. I was so happy we had a decent conversations with them. And their acoustic performance was worth the wait, because DAMN, they can sing like angels.

Still need to frame this.

Crying with the sissy because “Amnesia” was too beautiful and it just reminded us of Mum.

Almost breaking my Polaroid.. but.. MEMORIES.

Fast forward to another day in L.A.

We met Ashton, yet again. And I love how he approached us first, and wanted to have a conversation, but apparently people just want to take selfies because it turned into a selfie photoshoot.

Sigh, hopefully we meet you again when you’re back in L.A.

Besos, my darlings.

x. April Mae

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