"We're gonna be at the venue soon, so everyone's probably gonna start waking up." Danny said, getting up from the table. I saw Sam smirk, peeking back up at him. We knew what that meant.

"How long are you two planning on trying to keep this a secret?" He said softly, turning to face us, leaning up against the counter. Sam got up, playfully shoving Danny.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He laughed, shooting him a look and making his way back to his bunk.

Danny waited until Sammy was out of sight before flashing me an 'I told you so' look. My stomach dropped. But.. I'm sure he was just kidding.

Right?

And then I finally heard the door to the back room open. I didn't have to turn around to know what was about to happen. My heart started beating faster until Jake made his way over to the table, sitting down across from me. He stared back at me with sleepy, blood-shot eyes.

My heart dropped. He had been crying.

"Can we talk?" He said softly.

"Jake, I.."

"Jess, please."

I looked over his shoulder to see Sam at his bunk, pretending to look busy. But I knew he was listening.

"Jake, I don't think-" He then reached over the table, grabbing my hand and pulled me to the back room. My body felt cold as we passed Sam. He flashed me a wide-eyed look, as if asking if I was okay. I subtly nodded, following Jake as he shut the door behind us, locking the door.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, looking up at him, feeling my cheeks burn. He leaned back against the door, staring back down at me. My heart started beating faster.

I hated when he looked at me like that.

He could get away with anything.

"Jess, are.. are we really over?" He said softly, looking down at his feet. I was thankful he broke his stare.

"Jake, I just think-"

"Cause I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. You're right, I shouldn't have laughed at you. The last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt you. And you're right, I should be your person, I always want to be your person, you should never have to think twice about coming to me, and you did, and.. I should've listened, and I'm sorry. We could have just talked about everything. And I.. I've wanted to propose to you.. so many times, but.. I ruin it, I know that, and I'm sorry, I just-"

"Jake, I-"

"Just let me finish." He sighed. He came over, sitting down next to me on the bed. My heart jumped as he reached over, grabbing my hands. "Jess.. I love you. I love you so much, and I'm sorry that we fight so much and I promise I'll be better, okay? I.. I want you. I want us. I want our place and our family and-"

"Our family?" I said, feeling my heart jump. He bit down on his lip, staring back at me as his cheeks burned red.

"Jess, I haven't been able to stop thinking about.. what could've happened that day. And I know I had said that I didn't want that but.. I.. I can't think of anything else that I want more now." He moved his hand to my leg, giving me subtle smile.

"The idea of.. a mini me, or a mini you or.. both." He laughed. "Just running around our place. I've never been happier than when.. that felt like a possibility. And you gave that to me. You made me excited about something I never thought I could ever want. And I want it so badly.. with you."

"Jake.." I sighed, staring back into his eyes. This wasn't at all what I was expecting. We weren't even engaged and he was already excited about staring a family. He was already thinking how many steps ahead. Maybe he had really changed..

I quickly shook the thought.

This is what happened every time. He always told me what I wanted to hear, and we were great for however long and then.. I would just feel like shit again when he stopped caring about how he treated me. I couldn't keep reliving this. I couldn't keep falling for it.

Especially after everything that happened with Sam.

Sam made me happy. I never second guessed anything he said or did. Sam was perfect. But maybe he didn't want anything serious. And it was clear that Jake did. Today, at leas. And.. I've always wanted a family. But if Sam didn't even want a relationship..

My head was spinning so fast, I felt dizzy.

"Jake, I.. I can't keep doing this." I finally said, looking down.

"I know, and I'm sorry, but I promise.. everything is going to change. I swear."

"Jake, this is all I've wanted from you.. why do I always have to leave in order for you to say you're gonna change?" He moved in closer, holding my face in his hands. My cheeks burned under his palms as he stared back into my eyes.

"I know, and I'm sorry, but please-"

"Jake, there's someone else." I finally said.

He was silent, pulling his hands away, staring at me wide-eyed.

"What?" He whispered, his face dropping. My heart stared racing as he held his stare on me. His jaw began to clench as his face curved into a hostile glare. I felt a knot forming in the pit of my stomach.

"Who." He snapped, his voice dropping.

"Jake, does it even m-"

"Who, Jess?!" He yelled, leaning in close. I looked away, but I could feel his eyes drilling a hole into the side of my head. Finally he backed away, shaking his head.

"Sam?" He sighed. I bit down on my lip, peeking back up at him.

"Jake, I didn't mean for-" He pulled away, storming out of the room, slamming the door behind him. I quickly jumped up, following him out.

"Jake!" I yelled, but in the blink of an eye, Jake swung his fist. Sam quickly held up his hands, but not quick enough before being struck in the face, tumbling over onto the ground with a loud thud. I heard him grunt, doing his best to guard his face as Jake continued to swing. Thankfully, it didn't take long for Danny to rush over, doing his best to pull Jake off of Sam, yanking him back towards the bunks.

Josh quickly pushed open the curtain of his bunk, frantically looking around.

"What the hell is going on??" He yelled, his eyes moving down to Sam, still sprawled out on the floor.

"Don't you ever fucking touch her again!" He yelled, kicking his legs, trying to break free from Danny's tight grip. Sam groaned as he sat up, his hand covered in blood as he pulled it away from his nose.

"I asked you for help! And this is what you do?!" Jake yelled. "I don't know what the fuck you said to her, but I swear to god, if you even look at her again.." Danny tried yanking him away, but he kept fighting. Sam eventually pushed himself up off the ground, holding his hand against his face. He shook his head, glaring back at Jake.

"If you want to talk, fine, we can talk outside." He sighed, wincing with pain. Jake finally pulled away from Danny, pushing past Sam as he stormed off down the steps, slamming the door behind him. Sam sighed, turning to face me, giving me a gentle smile before slowly making his way down the steps.

I waited a minute before going over to the window, sitting down close to listen.

Sam leaned back against the bus, holding his face.

"You know, I can ignore the shit on New Year's Eve." Jake yelled. "That was Kelly, and we could've all moved on after that and pretended like it never happened, and I can even overlook you literally barging in on us, giving that big speech cause.. whatever, we were all wasted, we all say shit we don't mean. But.. as my brother, I asked you to help me, you know how I feel about her.. and you still-" He stopped, running his hands through his hair. I could tell he was holding back another punch.

"I expected this from Josh, but I never expected this from you." He finally said, glaring back at him. "We get into one fight, and suddenly she's running to you-"

"Jake, you have no idea how many chances she's given you!" Sam snapped, pushing himself away from the bus, moving closer to Jake. "How many times she's cried over you.. to me! And you're angry, why? Because she didn't give you one more? How is that fair to her? I tried to help you and you just.. you couldn't control yourself for one night. She wanted to marry you, Jake, and.. for all I know she still does, and.. maybe I'm just the next best thing but.. I'm here for her as long as she wants me to be. She.. she's my best friend first, before anything else. And.. I'm not doing this to spite you. I.. I can't help how I feel and honestly, I don't know how it happened.. but it did. And I'm sorry. Her heart is broken, because of you.. but I will always be there to help her put it back together."

I quickly jumped back as Jake swung again, forcing Sam back into the side of the bus. I heard him grunt, grabbing his face again.

"She's mine." Jake snapped, glaring back at him.

"Y-you can hit me all you want but.. it's never gonna change how I feel about her and.. if she decides she wants to be with you, then fine.. I'm happy if she's happy. But if she decides she wants me.. I'm gonna be here."