"Of course the first show back after your twenty first birthday would be New Orleans," I tease.

"Hey, I didn't make the tour schedule, but I'm not mad at the person who did." Alex grins as we walk down the French Quarter.

Somehow he convinced Chris to let us go out to explore the city. So here we are, Alex, Milo, Chris, a few other crew members, and me walking around. Granted, Alex protested against them coming, but he should know better by now that it's a condition to at least have Milo around.

We all got up early this morning to beat the heat and the crowd. While the streets are almost vacant, the heat and humidity are unruly, even with clouds coating the sky. I stop walking for a second to throw my hair that's grown twice its normal size into a ponytail, wanting to get it off the back of my damp neck.

"Too bad we won't get to see the night life," I say. "I bet its wild."

While the streets are bare now, I can't even begin to imagine how packed they'll be tonight. I've heard it's like one big party every night on Bourbon Street and people can get really crazy. I've witnessed some of the wild activities that go on here when the boys had a show here once.

"Even if I didn't have a show tonight, there's no way Chris would let me step foot out of the hotel." Alex mechanically laughs, turning the baseball hat on his head backwards, adjusting his sunglasses as he wipes some sweat off his forehead. Even though the sun isn't shining, he put sunglasses on to cover his face, hoping no one will recognize him.

"True." He has a point.

As we continue to walk around I fell something wet hit my nose. Looking up, the cloudy skies have gotten a little grayer and I know a down pour is ahead. Just as I suspected, one rain drop turns into two, three, and then hundreds. In the blink of an eye it starts to downpour.

Instinctively, I quickly dart to the nearest sidewalk, ducking under a nearby buildings awning. Alex follows, both of us pressing our backs up against the building to shield ourselves from the pouring rain. The rest of the crew end up running to the other side of the street to another building.

The wind starts to pick up in our direction and the rain starts spraying us in the face. We both put our hands up, trying to shield ourselves from the precipitation. After a few moments, Alex turns his body in my direction, standing in front of me. He places his hands on the wall on each side of my head to shield me from the rain, letting it spray against his back instead.

This oddly feels like deja vu.

I can't help but think back to when we rushed into the bus shower after the last pouring rain we encountered. When he stood the exact same way, body inches from mine, and I wondered if he wanted to kiss me or not. And I definitely can't help but think back to his birthday, when he actually asked me to kiss him.

For the last few days, that memory has been burned into my brain, haunting me. No matter how hard I try not to think about it, it keeps creeping up into the back of my mind. I can't get his stupid piercing blue eyes, smile, or face out of my head. As much as I wanted to kiss him, I knew he was drunk and would probably regret it in the morning. That is if he even remembered...

If we had kissed and he didn't remember, I would be crushed. I'm still not certain, but I think he does remember drunkenly wanting to kiss me. The way he told me he was sorry the next morning, and the look in his eyes when he said it, lead me to believe he remembered.

For the remainder of the break, all alone in my apartment going stir-crazy, all I could think about was Alex. Why would he ever ask me to kiss him? Does he regret it? Or does he feel the same way I do?

He was drunk, Joslyn. There's no way someone like him would actually fall for someone like you, I tell myself.

Shaking my head of my thoughts, I'm brought back to reality only to be met with those piercing blue eyes that have been making me feel a bit weak in the knees lately.

A particular large gust of wind comes through, pelting Alex's back. Almost as if he'd been holding his breath, he lets out a puff of air, it fanning across my face. Shaking his head as if he was coming out of a daze, he stands up straight, removing his hands from the wall.

"We should get inside," he suggests, clearing his throat and putting his hand on my lower back to guide me to the nearest shop.

When we enter, a bell attached to the door rings out and we're greeted by an older man behind the counter. It's some sort of hot sauce shop, a variety of bottles lining the walls on shelves.

"Hello! Welcome to my rain shelter," the man behind the counter jokes, knowing we came in here to avoid the weather. "Would you like to try some samples?"

"We'd love to," I say, shooting Alex a playful smirk, knowing he hates spicy food, only to earn a glare in return.

"Great! This one is our most popular," the man says, handing me a small sample cup. He tries to hand one to Alex, but he politely declines.

"Not bad," I comment after tasting the sauce with a tortilla chip. It wasn't too spicy, but it had a kick to it.

"Here, try this one. It's a level up." The man offers another sample.

I taste it, instantly feeling the heat on my tongue. "Oh, wow. That one really has a kick to it," I say, reaching for the water bottle in my purse, taking a few gulps.

"You took that pretty well." The man chuckles. "Most customers start freaking out and cough up a storm after that one. Maybe you want to try our hottest sauce?" he asks, a glint in his eye.

"No, I think I'm good." I chuckle, capping my water bottle.

"Oh, come on. I thought you liked spicy food," Alex challenges, a smirk on his face.

"I do like spicy food, but not things that can burn my tongue off!"

"Chicken," Alex playfully taunts me. "Come on, I dare you to do it."

"No way! Not for a guy that can't even handle a hot chicken sandwich."

"Still, I tried it!" He tries to defend himself. "Now it's your turn to know how I feel about spicy food."

"You're a bit dramatic, aren't you?" I smirk, raising my brows.

"No, you're just a chicken," Alex quips back, getting me riled up.

I don't know if it's my competitive nature after growing up with a bunch of boys, or if it's me wanting to impress him, but I take the sample from the man, daring to try the hottest one.

At first it tastes fine, but after a few seconds I instantly regret it. It feels like my whole mouth is on fire and I grab for my water bottle, downing it, not that it does much to help.

"Shit, Joss. Are you ok?" Alex asks when I start to have a small coughing fit. "I didn't think you'd actually do it!"

"Here, let me run to the back and get you a cup of ice," the man says, darting to a back room.

I try my best to even my breathing, trying not to think of the burning sensation in my mouth.

Soon enough, the employee comes with a cup of ice and I gratefully take it, swishing the cubes around in my mouth.

"Wow, in my five years working here I've never seen someone badass enough to try that. Hats off to you, kid. She's a keeper, man," he says to Alex, smiling and giving him a thumbs up.

"Yeah, I think I'm going to keep her around." Alex teases, soothingly running his hand up and down my back as I try to recover.

"You're crazy, you know that?" Alex chuckles as we sit in his dressing room eating lunch.

"You dared me! What was I supposed to do?"

"Say no?" He laughs, causing me to roll my eyes.

After the rain let up and I didn't feel like I was dying anymore, we left the shop and found the rest of the crew. Chris didn't look happy that Alex and I broke off from the rest of the group, but there was no way I was running through the pouring rain to stand with them on the other side of the street a few feet away.

When we all met back up, we went back to the hotel to freshen up to go to the venue.

"Hey," Alex says after a few moments of comfortable silence. "Can I tell you something?"

"Anything."

"Promise you won't say anything," he stresses, tone and demeanor becoming serious.

"Scouts honor," I say, sitting up straighter, giving him my undivided attention.

"I haven't told anyone yet, but I did something big," he confesses, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

"What did you do?" I ask cautiously, my heartrate accelerating, automatically thinking the worst case scenario.

"It's nothing bad," he's quick to reassure me. "It's just..." He trails off, letting out a puff of air, trying to gather his thoughts on how to break the news to me. "I kind of bought my own place."

"What?" I ask, feeling relieved and shocked at the same time.

"Yeah, I bought my own condo in New York. It's perfect, Joss." He sighs in contentment, a hint of a smile on his face. "It has the perfect view of the city and over looks Central Park."

"Alex, that's amazing! When? How? Why?"

"Slow down!" He chuckles. "I just figured it was time for me to get my own place. I can't stand living in my parents' house anymore, if you can even call it that." He scoffs. "But, anyway, it's been something I've wanted to do for a while now. I didn't tell anyone because I wanted to do this on my terms. I didn't want anyone's input or opinion, or have anyone try to talk me out of it. I just wanted to find a place that I loved, so I called up my mom's friend that's a realtor and she showed me some places over break. I fell in love with one in particular and signed a few days ago. But you can't tell anyone," he reiterates. "Especially Chris. I know he's going to be pissed and I have to find a way to break it to him gently."

I nod my head in understanding. "I won't tell a soul," I promise, pretending to seal my lips and throw away the key. "But I'm so happy for you! I'm glad you have a place to call your own."

"Thanks." He smiles big. "Actually," he says, suddenly acting nervous. "I was wondering if you would be willing to decorate it for me? I have no clue how to decorate, and I really like how nice and homey your place is."

"Really?" I ask, shocked.

"Only if you want to," he says, eyes hopeful.

"I'd love to." I give him a soft smile and he breaks out into a big grin.

"Guess who's back!" someone sings form the doorway.

Alex and I look over to see none other than Shay struggling to get her bags through the door. Her flight was delayed due to weather.

"About time," I joke as Alex and I jump up to help her with her stuff.

When Shay adds her final touches to Alex's look, I hop off the corner of the vanity, ready to get this first show back started.

"Ready for the first show back?" I ask as we walk through the backstage halls to get Alex to the stage.

"I think so," Alex says, despite the nerves evident in his voice. It still shocks me that after all this time he still gets nervous to do shows.

"You're going to do great," I remind him, comfortingly placing my hand on his arm.

"Thanks, Joss." He smiles, reaching his hand up to grab mine, braiding our fingers together.

Its moments like these when the butterflies erupt in my stomach and I think maybe, just maybe, this isn't a stupid little crush. Maybe he actually likes me back.

"Go kill it out there," I say, giving him a hug as we make it to the back of the stage.

"I'll will," he murmurs into my hair before pulling away, giving Shay a quick hug, and running up the stairs to get ready.

"Joslyn." I turn around to see Chris standing there, arms crossed. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Uh, sure," I say, following him backstage. I glance back to see Shay giving me a confused look and I shrug, not knowing what he wants to talk to me about either. I swear, if it's another last minute event he wants me to throw together I'm going to scream.

"Take a seat," he says as we walk into a room, closing the door behind him.

I take a seat on the couch, starting to feel anxious. "What's up?" I ask, trying to act causal.

"Whatever is going on between you and Alex needs to stop now," he demands, voice stern. He firmly stands in front of me, not even bothering to sit down.

"What?" my voice croaks out, totally caught off guard.

"I need you to be more professional. I hired you for one reason and one reason only; to be his assistant. I'm not paying you to be a distraction. Is that understood?"

"Wha— no!" I try to defend myself, my heart thumping in my chest. "Im not trying to be a distraction or—"

Chris holds his hand up to cut me off. "Just keep it professional and do the job I hired you to do if you want to keep your employment. Understood?"

I numbly nod my head, not knowing what else to say. Even if I did know, he wouldn't hear me out anyway.

He gestures to the door, signaling for me to leave.

I quickly scramble to my feet, practically running out the door. Never have I been more embarrassed in my life. Is that what Chris really thinks of me? That I'm unprofessional and not doing my job well? I always had a hunch that he didn't like me, but I didn't expect him to think so lowly of me as an employee.

Practically sprinting to the nearest bathroom, I lock myself inside, needing a moment to myself. Leaning against the door, I try to take some deep breaths, despite the large lump in my throat.

The one thing I take pride in is my work ethic, and to have Chris talk to me like that tanks my ego big time. I always try my best to go above and beyond for my job, always doing what I'm told and more.

If Chris thinks I'm bad at my job, he's crazy. I always get Alex to where he needs to be on time, schedule everything, answer emails, and I even help him do his job half the time! For him to have the nerve to tell me how to do my job is uncalled for.

What am I supposed to do, not talk to Alex or be nice to him? I have to be with him most hours of the day, how does he not expect us to form some sort of relationship? Granted, my little crush on him may be unprofessional, but I know that and I don't act upon it. I know nothing can happen between us, and it won't.

Taking a few more minutes to compose myself, I finally walk out of the bathroom, head held high, to go to the arena to watch the show. I spot Shay standing at the side of the stage, Alex already into the second song of the set list.

"Hey, why aren't you behind the sound board?" I ask.

"I was waiting for you," she says. "Do you want to just stay here for the rest of the show? The crowds really rowdy tonight."

"Yeah, that works," I say, not wanting to shove my way through the crowd.

"What did Chris want?"

"Oh, nothing," I say, trying to keep my voice even. "Just scheduling stuff," I lie, not wanting to admit the real reason.

When Alex is done with the song, all the lights in the arena turn on. It's that point in the show where he gets a chance to see the whole crowd for a moment. I catch his face falter for a second on the big screen, his eyes straining to look at something in the crowd before the music starts back up and he has to go into another song.

"That boy is so in love with you," Shay shouts over the music, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"What?" I choke out, not thinking I heard her correctly.

"He's only freaking out because you're not behind the sound board. That's what that face was for. Don't you realize by now that he looks directly at you every show?"

"He does not," I mumble, rolling my eyes.

"Oh yeah? Watch," she says, waving her hands around and yelling to try to get his attention.

When he walks over to our side of the stage Shay manages to catch his eye. He furrows his brows at her and she points to me and his face breaks out into a smile as he sings. He gives us a subtle wave before going to the other side of the stage, following his choreography.

"See." Shay grins, thinking she's proven her point.

I just roll my eyes, refusing to believe it, not wanting to.