He missed me? He missed me? And this is how he chose to tell me? I felt tears come to my eyes, my whole body going cold.

"I'm sorry." I whispered to Josh, gently pulling away from him and running out of the ballroom.

"Jess!" He called out, but I quickly ran into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. After waiting a minute, I hadn't heard anything, so I assumed he gave up. I just couldn't do it anymore. Not with him, especially not with Jake around. 

It just wasn't fair. Not to me, and especially not to him.

I was thankful to at least have a few minutes to clean myself up before there was a knock at the door. I did my best to try and calm myself down, catching my breath.

"Occupied." I finally called out, leaning up against the sink.

"Jess?" She said. It was Ronnie. "Jess, it's me, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I said, my voice cracking.

"Can I come in?" She asked, knocking again. I sighed, pushing myself off of the sink and making my way over, peeking out the door. She stared back at me, her eyes sad.

"Did he ask you to come and get me?" I asked.

"No, I.. I saw what happened and I just.. are you okay?" I shook my head, feeling more tears come to my eyes.

"No.." I said softly. "I.. I never should've came. It was a mistake. I.. I can't be around Jake, not if we have to be like this. And it wasn't fair.. to do this to Josh.. I.. I thought maybe.. but.. no."

"You need to be honest, Jess. You.. you need to tell him what you want."

"Josh is so sweet, but I just-"

"Not Josh." She said, biting down on her lip. I felt my cheeks burn.

She was right. After all, Jake did say he missed me. Maybe it wasn't hopeless. The last thing I wanted to do was make an idiot out of myself if he had actually moved on but.. I needed to be honest.. at least once. With both of them.

"Look, the party is ending anyway, why don't you and Josh go and.. take a long drive. And talk. And.. I'll get everyone back home." Ronnie said, giving me a subtle smile.

"Okay.." I sighed, wiping my eyes again. She nodded, heading for the door.

"Ronnie?" I called out. She stopped, turning towards me. "Thank you."

Her smile grew.

"No problem. I'll.. see you back at the house?" She asked, staring back at me. I nodded. Her smile grew as she walked out, shutting the door behind her.

I took a deep breath, wiping my face one more time before forcing myself back out. When I looked up, I saw Josh waiting out by the front doors. He turned to face me as he heard the bathroom door open, staring back at me, wide-eyed.

"Jess.." He said. I felt my heart start to beat faster as I went over to him. He reached out his hand, motioning towards the door. I hesitated, but eventually taking it and followed him out into the parking lot. We were silent the whole walk back to the car. He came over to my side, opening the door for me. I gave him a subtle smile as I hopped inside, shutting it behind me. I watched him slowly make his way around, climbing into the drivers seat. He remained quiet for a few minutes before turning to me, his face dropping.

"Jess.." He said softly. I looked back over at him, feeling tears come to my eyes again. "What happened in there?" I bit down on my lip, feeling my heart race.

"I'm.. I'm sorry, Josh." I said, looking away. "But I.. I can't do this anymore."

I could feel him staring at me, ever second more excruciating than the next.

"You can't do this.." He sighed. "This meaning.. us." I nodded, peeking back over at him.

"But.. why?" He asked. "W-what did I do wrong?" I turned to face him, shaking my head.

"Josh you.. you didn't do anything wrong. You.. you're perfect, it's just-"

"I'm just not him." He said softly, looking down. I bit down on my lip, nodding.

"You're not him." I whispered. He was quiet again for a moment, now looking out the front window.

"He left you, Jess." He finally said. "He left you. After everything.. he left you. And.. you still want him."

"I.. I know how it sounds but-"

"He's just gonna do it again." He snapped, turning to face me. "Jess, I love you. I'd never do that to you. I've.. I've done nothing but be there for you. I've done nothing but care for you, I.. I was willing to take care of a child that wasn't even mine.. for you! And.. and it's still not enough for you." He sighed, shaking his head.

"Josh, I'm so sorry." I whispered, not sure what else to say.

"He's gonna hurt you again, Jess." He said quietly. "You give him everything and.. he's just gonna hurt you."

"Then so be it." I said, looking down. "I.. I wouldn't mind being hurt by him." I heard him sigh, shaking his head, laughing to himself.

"Fine." He snapped. "Fine, Jess. If that's the case.. then I'm done. I can't do this anymore."

"I understand." I sighed, looking back over at him, more tears falling from my eyes. "Josh, you deserve someone who wants you just as much as you want them. And.. I'm sorry that that's not me but.. I know she's out there." 

He nodded, keeping his eyes out the front window, finally starting the car. I could tell this conversation was over. I sat back in my seat, turning to face the passenger door, staring out the window as we sat in silence the entire drive back to their house.

He then finally pulled into the driveway, stopping the car. Looking around, I could see that everyone else was already back home. My heart started beating faster.

"Jess.." Josh finally said, keeping his eyes forward. "I.. I think you should stay on the bus tonight." I nodded, feeling my cheeks burn.

"Me too." I sighed, peeking over at him. "I'm gonna come in to say good night to everyone first though." He nodded, getting out of the car, slamming the door behind him. I took a minute to let him get inside before I followed. 

When I walked in, I saw Ronnie sitting at the kitchen counter. She turned to me, flashing me a big smile. I made my way over and saw their mom and Danny sitting across from her.

"Did you have fun tonight?" Danny asked. "Didn't see you much, Sam wanted to hang outside for most of it." He laughed, shrugging.

"Y-Yeah." I managed, forcing a smile. "I, um.. I just wanted to say good night. And.. thank you so much for inviting me. It was.. beautiful." Their mom flashed me a big smile, hugging me tight.

"You're so welcome, dear. You are welcome here anytime."

"Thank you." I sighed, hugging her back. Ronnie then leaned over, pulling me into a tight hug.

"He's in the living room." She whispered into my ear. I felt my stomach drop as I peeked back at her, wide-eyed. She smirked at me, motioning back. I bit down on my lip, nodding.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I slowly made my way down the hall towards their living room. When I turned the corner, I felt my whole body get hot when I saw Jake, sitting down alone in front of the fireplace, leaning in, staring back at it. For a moment, it felt like I couldn't move, like time had stood still. All I could hear was the cracking of the fire and my heart pounding in my ears. 

Finally, I reached into my bag, pulling out a small box, holding it tight in my hand as I slowly made my way over to him.

"Jake.." I whispered. He quickly turned around, staring up at me, wide-eyed.

"Jess.." He said, starting to get up. I moved closer, shaking my head.

"N-no, no.. don't get up." I said softly, sitting down on the floor next to him. His lips curved into a smile as he reached out, helping me move my dress. He stared back at me, looking me up and down. I couldn't help but smile, feeling my cheeks burn.

"You know what this dress does to me." He mumbled, giggled to himself, his face turning red. I bit down on my lip, holding in my smile.

"I know." I sighed. "That's why I wore it." He nodded, his smile growing as he stared back at me, his eyes now in a daze.

"Jake.." I sighed, feeling my heart beat faster. I don't know why I was so nervous. I guess the worst that could happen is that.. I wound up alone after everything. But I had to take a chance.. for him. At least once.

"I.. I got you something." I said softly, handing him the small box. He stared back at me, his eyes getting wider.

"You.. you got me a gift?" He asked, his lips curving into a bigger smile. I nodded, moving closer to him.

"You.. you've given me so much.. I just wanted to give you something too." I said quietly. He held his stare on me for a moment, before he finally looked down, slowly opening the box.

His eyes quickly shot back up to me as he pulled out a thin gold chain with a treble clef charm.

"I still haven't taken mine off." I said softly, holding the crystal from his necklace in my fingertips. "So now.. you have your own you can wear.. from me." He stayed quiet, biting down on his lip, holding his stare on me.

"I love it." He sighed, holding it up to get a closer look. "Can you.. put it on for me?" He asked, smirking back at me. I couldn't help but smile, moving closer, reaching around his neck, our faces now inches from each other. He stared back into my eyes, giving me a gentle smile. It felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I then felt his hand move onto my leg, gently pulling me closer to him.

"There you go.." I said. His smile grew as he looked down, inspecting it again.

"I'll never take it off." He said softly, gently moving his hand up my thigh.

"Jake.." I sighed, feeling tears come to my eyes again. I quickly tried blinking them away. He reached up, gently holding my face in his hand, staring back into my eyes.

"Wait.." He said softly. "I just.. I need to say something."

I felt my heart jump.

"W-what is it?" I asked, leaning in closer, my eyes moving down to his lips.

"Jess, I know what I said the other day but.. I can't do this. I.. I can't wait for you to come back anymore, I need you. I.. I miss you so much. And maybe you're happy with him but I was so stupid for pushing you away. I love you, and.. I just know that you're meant to be with me. Maybe it's selfish but.. I need you to know. I.. I just want to be yours again."

He then leaned over, reaching under the tree, grabbing another small box. I stared down at it, wide-eyed as he held his close, keeping his eyes down.

"W-what's that?" I asked, peeking up at him.

"This could be.. whatever you want." He said, gently placing it on my leg, smiling back at me. I held my stare on him for a moment before picking it up, slowly opening it.

My jaw dropped once I realized what it was.

"Jake.." I sighed, looking back up at him. "W-what is this?" He reached over, gently holding my face in his hand again, staring back into my eyes.

"This.." He said, his smile growing. "This is a key.. to my new apartment. I got everything finalized a few weeks ago. Before.. well, before everything. But.. I only want it.. if it's with you."

I couldn't help but smile, feeling tears come to my eyes again. He gently wiped them away, pulling me in closer.

"So.. what do you say?" He asked, biting down on his lip, his cheeks getting red.

"Yes." I said, my smile growing. "Yesyesyes!"

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into a passionate kiss. Instantly I felt his hands grabbing me tightly, lifting me up onto his lap.

"Mmm.. I love you." He sighed, kissing me back harder, his lips curling into a smile.

"I love you." I said, reaching up, tangling my fingers in his hair. His lips moved down to my neck, kissing his way down.

"Jake.." I sighed, grabbing onto his shirt, leaning in close. "I want you."

He stared back at me, wide-eyed, biting down on his lip.

"We.. can go to my room." He whispered, his cheeks burning red. I shook my head, taking him by the hand.

"Come on.." I whispered, helping him up. He followed me closely, holding his stare on me. I couldn't help but smile, quickly leading him out the door and back onto the bus where I locked the door behind us.