After what didn't feel long at all, Ronnie was done with my makeup. She smiled at me. She insisted on doing it. I hadn't talked to Jake or any of the boys yet let alone actually leave the bathroom. She snuck out of the bathroom quickly to go get my new dress, which she convinced me to wear saying "If you ever feel down, I say you put on a dress. Any dress that makes you feel pretty. It has healing purposes ya know?" She took a while with the clothes so I stood up from the toilet seat to look at my makeup, it was simple (she knew me), but she did a little cat eye and rosier blush. I hated putting too much blush on because my cheeks were already rosy enough, but she insisted. I was wondering what was taking so long, until I heard talking. They were muffled by the door and to add on to that they were whispering.

"Did you talk to her?" I heard Jake's sad voice say.

"Yeah, I did, but I can't tell you what happened." Ronnie responded, like a true friend.

"Come on, Ron. You have to tell us so we can help." Sam said.

"The only thing that you guys can help is him." She responded. Who was she talking about?

"What did I do? I need to know, why does she think I need to change?" I scoffed through the door, knowing no one, but myself could hear me.

"You know what you did, you know what you're doing. You love her, we love her, but you're still dating and sleeping with someone else. I guess you wouldn't understand the feeling when the person inside of you isn't as excited as you are, when they haven't waited months to sleep with you." She said firmly and with a quip to her tone. She seemed angry and I could imagine what her face must have looked like.

"That's fucked up man." I heard Daniel say, putting together what the fight had been about.

"Ronnie that's gross, you're my sister." Jake said.

"Yeah, well she's my best friend and I swear I will cut your balls off in your sleep if you hurt her again. I'll make sure only one twin survives and that twin will be Josh."

"I would be happy with that, but I think it would be good IF NO ONE DIED YOU PSYCHOPATH!" Josh said, turning his indoor voice into an outdoor one. I laughed at him.

"I second that, I don't need anyone dying today. I'm not exactly, how you would say, going to college. If one of you were to, I don't know per say die, I would end up in mom and dad's basement." Sammy said.

"I just need to know how to make it right." Jake said.

"Be normal, be yourself, don't try to make up for what you've already done wrong. We hate that. Most of all don't mention her." The room went silent again, I scurried over to the toilet and sat down where I was before Ronnie had left. The door creaked open and Ronnie came through it with the dress in her hands. "Here you go, sweets."

"What did I do to deserve you?" I asked, standing up and giving her a hug.

"What's this about?" She laughed hugging me back.

"I just love you that's all, thank you." She must have understood that I heard them outside because her grip tightened.

"Let's get changed okay? I can't wait to hear you perform, maybe meet these people you've been talking about?" I nodded laughing. I took off my shirt and scooched the dress onto my body. It was really pretty, one of those floral tea dresses. It went down to my mid calf and was short sleeved with buttons down the front. I admired myself in the mirror for a second. "Dayum, that's hot!" Ronnie yelled. "Sorry, you look beautiful." She said in a kinder tone.

"I just need my Docs now and then we can go." Ronnie double check that her outfit and makeup were all okay and then walked out of the bathroom, leaving the door open for me. As I walked out of the door, I saw Sammy and Jake sitting on the couch. Danny was at the table and I assumed Josh was in my room changing as they all had different outfits on. They hadn't noticed me yet and I was thankful for that, but as soon as my foot hit the floor Sammy and Jake were on their feet.

"Wow, Mags, you look beautiful.." Sammy said. I smiled meekly at him and waited for Jake to say something, but he didn't. He just stared at me, his eyes telling me he didn't know what to say. I gave him a soft smile, trying to tell him it was okay or maybe that I had overreacted. A little smile emerged on his face.

"Guys we have to get going. I go on in an hour or so." I said, grabbing my boots and putting them on, then my jacket. I put my guitar case over my shoulder. The rest of them put on their coats and we were on our way. I walked behind everyone, instructing where to go before we made it to the corners. Jake stopped in his tracks and turned back looking at me, waiting for me. I laughed a little as I finally made it to him.

"Want me to carry that?" He asked.

"No, it's okay. It's better when I wear it like a backpack." I told him. We walked silently for a little while, our fingers brushing against each others every once in a while. Finally Jake took my cold hand into his, linking our fingers together. I smiled at the sight. "Come here." I said to him. We stopped walking for a minute and I gently kissed him, just like our first kiss.

"You guys! We don't know where we're going over here!" Danny yelled. I giggled into Jake mouth, then turning and walking once more.

"You know I love you right?" He said.

"Yes, I do." I responded.

It took us about 15 more minutes to get to the Scratcher and when we arrived, people were standing all around. I knew we should have come earlier. There wasn't going to be enough room, but like clockwork I saw Glen's happy face peep through the crowd towards me. I let go of Jake's hand to run over to him, jumping into his hug a bit and yelling, "HANSARD!"

"It feels like I haven't seen you in months." His Irish voice flowed.

"That's because you haven't." I hit chest. "I've been hearing about it forever, Katie's been nonstop about it." That's when I realized I was being rude. "I'm sorry, I have to introduce you to some people." I said. After going through all the names, I stopped at Jake, "and this is, umm.. well this is my- this is my Jake." I said, not quite sure how to label him. The others watched happily at my failure to introduce Jake.

"Well, we've got a booth down in the back. It should fit us all." Glen said, leading us in the direction. I set my guitar in the stand on the stage and went over to the booth seeing Niall and Clare and knowing that I would have to do that awkward introduction thing again.

After the re-introduction, Niall said "Well, looks like you're up darlin'." I smiled at him, my mind going a million miles a minute. As I walked away I heard Niall say, "She'll be fine, she does this all the time, a real regular." I grabbed my guitar and sat down on the stool ready to speak into the microphone.

"Hellooo!" I said excitedly. "If you're new here, I'm Maggie. I'm gonna sing a few songs for you tonight." I heard hooting to my right side and looked over at the boys yelling. I smiled at them. "Now, I have a few guests here tonight, so don't be too awful to me, I beg." Then laughter came from around the room. "This first song," I paused to tune my guitar, "is a song for a very close personal friend of mine. It's from the infamous Stephen Stills 2 album, this one's for you Sammy babe." I said, finally beginning the Change Partners.

All of the ladies attending the ball

Are requested to gaze

In the faces found on the dance cards

Please then remember and don't get too close

To one special one

He will take your defenses and run

So we change partners

Time to change partners

You must change partners

Again

This is how most of our ladies grew up

At the country club dances

They learned how to handle the boys

Gently but firmly, they learned to say no

There were four more young men

Who were waiting in the color and the noise

So we change partners

Time to change partners

You must change partners

Again

I kept eye contact, but halfway through the song, I realized this probably wasn't the best song choice. I started listening to the actual lyrics coming out of my mouth and regretting them as they seemed all too familiar to my current situation with Jake. What if he thought the song was about him? I didn't want to look at Jake, so I turned and looked at the rest of the audience, getting them to sing the second part of the song with me.

All of the ladies attending the ball

Are requested to gaze

In the faces found on the dance cards

Please then remember and follow your list

'Cause the dear things get hurt

And the broken hearts make you feel hard

So we change partners

Time to change partners

You must change partners

Again

When I finished playing the song, I closed my eyes, slowly peeking to look at everyone. Cheers could be heard, but one in particular. Sammy. He stood up with that goofy smile of his, clapping. "Thank you." He mouthed. I nodded towards him and then continued with a few other songs.

"You see, these special people here tonight have come all the way from my hometown back in Michigan. They're in a band of their own and one person in the band has taken a little piece of my heart." As I said that, I saw Ronnie stand up.

"Damn right you have, my heart!" She yelled over the noise.

"Yes, exactly. So for my last song, I would like to dedicate it to J- well, you know who you are. I'm sorry I left." I felt my fingers start strumming and then my voice behind it, but it sort of just felt like I was floating. My eyes wandered to Jake, who was watching me intently.

Throw my ticket out the window

Throw my suitcase out there, too

Throw my troubles out the door

I don't need them any more

'Cause tonight I'll be staying here with you

I should have left this town this morning

But it was more than I could do

Oh, your love comes on so strong

And I've waited all day long

For tonight when I'll be staying here with you

His eyes stayed locked with mine, he didn't have much of an expression, just the content that washed over him.

Is it really any wonder

The love that a stranger might receive

You cast your spell and I went under

I find it so difficult to leave

I can hear that whistle blowin'

I see that stationmaster, too

If there's a poor boy on the street

Then let him have my seat

'Cause tonight I'll be staying here with you

He opened his mouth like he might yell something, but instead he mouthed the lyrics to himself. I thought that was one of the cutest things I'd ever seen.

Throw my ticket out the window

Throw my suitcase out there, too

Throw my troubles out the door

I don't need them any more

'Cause tonight I'll be staying here with you