Page 1 of Wish We Were There

Chapter One

Parker

Then

Pop-punk Sensation Get Well Soon Frontman Zach Ross Dead at 29, Others Injured, in Tour Bus Crash

Punk News Net, August 4

by Parker Flores

Zach Ross, lead singer of Get Well Soon, was reported dead this evening following a collision involving their tour bus and an unidentified driver. He was 29 years old.

The members of Get Well Soon, their bus driver, and the driver of the other vehicle were all taken to the hospital, where Ross was pronounced deceased. No further information about the other driver is available at this time, but witnesses report the unidentified driver was behaving erratically and initially attempted to leave the scene.

Get Well Soon has canceled all upcoming tour dates, which were scheduled to run for another three weeks, in light of the accident. Keyboardist Taylor Lewis-Ross and guitarist Angie Gomez were also injured in the crash, but are expected to be discharged from the hospital shortly.

Punk News Net has followed the career of Ross and Get Well Soon for several years, and we’re devastated to hear about this. Zach, Taylor, Angie, Dean, and Kylie are personal friends to much of the PNN staff, and we extend our sincerest condolences to them, especially Zach’s husband Taylor and all his family and friends.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Updated August 5

Taylor Lewis-Ross and Angie Gomez were both discharged from the hospital this morning. They have declined to comment at this time.

The driver of the other vehicle was allegedly arrested for driving under the influence after being discharged from the hospital.

No crowdfunding or other donations have been established by members of the band at this time. The members of Get Well Soon kindly ask that any donations fans wish to send are given to a local LGBTQ charity of their choice.

Now

“Whenever you’re ready.”

Parker leaned back in his chair, watching Taylor sitting across from him. Between them, his recording gear was set up on the table: his laptop and a microphone in front of him, and a second mic in front of Taylor. The other man nodded in acknowledgment, but took a long moment before glancing back up at Parker. His dirty blond hair fell into his face as he glanced down at his lap; his right arm was still in a cast, three months after everything.

Finally, Taylor turned his gaze up, blue eyes meeting Parker’s. “Ready,” he said softly. Parker’s heart squeezed at the determined expression on his face.

“Hey, everyone, it’s Parker here again with another episode of The Indie Advocate,” he began, the rehearsed words coming easily. “This is episode one hundred and eighteen, and our guest today is none other than the incredibly talented Taylor Lewis-Ross, keyboardist for pop-punk powerhouse Get Well Soon.”

“Hello, everyone,” Taylor said, leaning closer to the mic with a shaky smile on his face.

“As you know, there was unfortunately a terrible accident a few months ago involving Get Well Soon, where the tour bus was hit by a drunk driver,” Parker continued. “And sadly, the lead singer and Taylor’s husband Zach passed away in the crash. Get Well Soon has been on hiatus since then, and hasn’t really released any statements, so—”

“Right, this is the first time we’re saying anything publicly,” Taylor added. Parker nodded and gestured for him to continue. “And I just want to make it clear from the beginning, this whole thing was my idea. No one on our team is asking me to do this, and Parker didn’t ask me. I pitched this to him. I loved his podcast and figured, well, since I’m ready to talk about things, this would be the best place to do so.”

Parker smiled. His heart ached in his chest—half in relief and thankfulness for Taylor’s transparency, and half in grief that they were having this conversation at all. “That’s right. And, in the interest of full disclosure, Taylor and I have actually been friends for, what, ten years now?”

“We went to college together,” Taylor added, managing a small smile as he met Parker’s gaze. “Parker was actually the one who introduced me to Zach. He even gave a speech at our wedding. I don’t think Get Well Soon would have become a thing if it weren’t for him. Have you ever told that story on the podcast?”

Parker laughed, shaking his head as he winced. “I sure haven’t. But that’s okay. We’re here to talk about you, and Zach, and the future of Get Well Soon. And anything else you want to talk about while you’re here. Usually these interviews are a little more structured, but this isn’t really like any other situation I’ve covered before, so I’m letting you take the reins here. Do you want to tell that story?”

“Sure,” Taylor agreed, nodding. Parker held back a sigh of relief—even thinking about it made him emotional still—as the other man continued, “Well, Parker and I became friends because we were in a few classes together. I think it was a poetry class, right?”

“Yeah, poetry,” Parker agreed, chuckling.

“I was a music major, and Parker was in journalism. I was interested in writing songs even then, so I took the poetry credit,” Taylor said. “And Parker was friends with Zach, who was wanting to put a band together.”

“Zach lived in the same dorm as me our freshman year,” Parker added. “And I can confirm he was just as charismatic then. Everyone he met was his friend. Everybody loved him.”

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