I quickly hopped down the steps of the bus, catching up with Josh as we made our way down the sidewalk towards the bar, because the last thing I wanted to do was get stuck behind Jess and Sam.

"Tonight was great." Josh said, turning to me. "You really changed up the solo on that last song." I nodded, subtly peeking back at Jess as we kept walking. My heart sunk as Sam wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer, but every time I looked back, her eyes met mine and I couldn't help but smile.

She hadn't been on my side of the stage in a few nights, but tonight it felt like she couldn't take her eyes off of me. I loved it.

And Josh was right.. every night I had been showing off, just to try and get a little bit more of her attention. So, I guess it finally worked. I missed how she'd be there for me in the wings every night, just to tell me how amazing I was. I bit down on my lip, holding in my smile.

"Y-yeah." I said back to Josh. "I.. I'm just trying some new stuff."

"Well, it's working." He laughed, looking forward. "So keep it up. Everyone loved it." I nodded, peeking back again.

When we finally got to the bar, I rushed over, grabbing the door. Josh and Danny made their way in, Sam followed closely, guiding Jess in behind him. Before she walked past, I flashed her a smile. My heart started racing as she smirked back at me, giggling to herself, shaking her head. I followed her closely, shutting the door behind us.

As we made our way across the bar, my heart stared to race as I smelt traces of her perfume floating through the air; so fresh and clean with the faintest hint of her lavender shampoo. I remember it so vividly from when I'd fall asleep next to her every night, my face nuzzled in her hair.

I haven't had a full nights sleep since.

When we got to our table, I quickly grabbed the seat across from Jess as Sam slid in next to her, pulling her chair closer to him. I felt my face get hot, but did my best to keep a subtle smile.

"Shots for the table!" Josh called out, sitting down next to me.

"Shots already?" Danny laughed. Sam nodded.

"Shots!" He joined in, now waving down one of the waitresses. I peeked up at Jess to get a sense of how she felt.. but she seemed into it.

"Did someone say shots?" The waitress laughed as she made her way over.

"Yeah, shots for everyone." Josh said, smiling up at her. She smirked back, giving him a wink. I couldn't help but smile. The sooner he found someone new.. the less I had to worry. My eyes shot over to Sam, who's gaze was already locked on Jess, balancing his chin on his hand.

This was killing me.

"And for you?" She said, turning towards me. My cheeks burned. The last time I got wasted, I had ruined everything so.. maybe it was time to calm down. It just wasn't worth it anymore.

"Um.. just a water for me." I said quietly. She nodded, heading back over to the bar. I peeked back up at Jess to see her already staring, giving me a questioning look. I smirked, shrugging my shoulders. Her smile grew as she nodded, then turned back to Sam, reaching her hand over, placing it on his leg. My stomach dropped.

How badly I missed the feeling of her touch, even with the most innocent of intentions. I still got butterflies when her fingers gently glided across my skin. It was taking everything in me just to keep my hands to myself.

It wasn't long before the shots arrived at the table. Josh held up his glass, flashing us all a wide smile. Everyone else did the same. I subtly held up my glass, peeking back over at Jess, her eyes still locked on Sam.

"Here's to another great show, and to doing it all over again tomorrow!" He yelled, quickly downing his drink. Everyone else followed. I sighed, taking a big sip of my water. I already knew it was going to be a long night. Nothing was worse than being the only sober one. The night dragged on longer than I had ever experienced. Now I was starting to remember why I drank so much.

I peeked over at Jess, who was drinking more than usual. She seemed fine, but I kept an eye on her as she started to sway in her chair. Sam was too involved in his conversation with Josh and Danny to even notice. He had his back semi-turned away from her the entire night.

I held my stare on her as I gently moved my foot, brushing it up against hers. She instantly perked up, smirking back at me. Her cheeks were already flushed from the alcohol, her eyes getting tired. I couldn't help but smile, biting down on my lip as I felt my face get hot again. My heart started to race as I felt her foot gently slide up my leg. She giggled to herself as she turned back towards Sam and Josh. I sighed, continuing to hold my stare on her.

Before we knew it, the table was covered in empty glasses. Josh's talking had escalated to yelling, Sam's laughs bellowed throughout the bar, and Jess' eyes had been shooting back and forth between me and Sam all night.

I had to do something to get her attention.

Then as she went to stand up, she quickly grabbed onto her chair for balance. I instantly jumped up, reaching out to catch her before her legs gave out.

"You okay?" I laughed. She nodded as she smiled back at me.

"Yeah." She giggled to herself. "I'm fine." I sighed, staring back at her with dazed eyes. Her laugh was one of my favorite sounds.

I'd do whatever it took to make her laugh, all day, every day.

Sam looked up at her, his eyes completely bloodshot, a drunken smile plastered across his lips.

"You okay, baby?" He mumbled. My heart sunk. Baby? They already had pet names for each other? My heart pounding now. What else were they doing? Knowing Jess, I'm sure nothing, but-

"Yeah." She sighed. "Um.. I.. I think I should head back to the bus." She said, looking over towards the door.

"I can take you back." I said, quickly getting up, reaching out for her as she continued to sway. She peeked over at Sam who had already turned back around.

"Thanks." She said softly, her cheeks burning. I nodded, gently placing my hand on her back, guiding her towards the door. She leaned over, balancing her weight on me. I couldn't help but smile, grabbing her by the waist, holding her up.

"Woah.." I laughed. "Come here." My heart jumped again as I heard her giggle to herself, now tightly wrapping her arm around me. I leaned in closer, getting another whiff of the soothing lavender wafting from her hair. I hadn't realized just how much I missed it.

When we got back to the bus, I pulled open the door, very carefully guiding her up the steps. She somehow managed to make it to the top while still pressing all of her weight up against me.

I didn't mind. I'd never mind.

"Are you gonna stay with me?" She mumbled, leaning up against the table. I bit down on my lip, smiling back at her. If only she knew what I would give to be able to stay with her every night for the rest of my life.

"I'm gonna help you get to bed." I laughed, reaching out for her, guiding her into the back room. She held out her hand, doing her best to keep her balance. Finally, she plopped down on the bed, staring back up at me with dazed eyes and a gentle smile. Every time she stared at me, I got lost in her eyes just like it was the first time. My smile grew as I reached out, taking her hand, pulling her back up.

"Come on." I said softly. "Lift your arms." She didn't hesitate to lift them up, her eyelids getting heavier. I grabbed the bottom of her shirt, gently pulling it over her head and tossing it onto the floor. I kept my eyes down, doing my best not to stare as I quickly looked around, grabbing the first t-shirt I could find, gently pulling it over her head, guiding her arms through the sleeves.

"Thank you." She said softly, holding her stare on me. My heart started beating faster as my eyes moved down to her lips.

"What pants do you want?" I asked, quickly breaking our stare, looking around the room. No matter how badly I wanted to, I couldn't do anything. Not right now. Not with her like this. This isn't how I wanted us to happen.

Now I wondered if this was how she felt when I was the one who got wasted. I regretted every time she had to carry me back into our room. It felt like a wasted night that we could've just spent together.

I'd be ordering waters from now on.

"I don't want 'em." She mumbled, leaning her arms back into the bed, keeping her eyes locked on me. I peeked over at her to see her still staring at me, a sly grin on her lips. My heart jumped as I quickly turned away. When she looked at me like that, I would do.. whatever she wanted, no questions asked.

I eventually grabbed a pair of shorts out of her suitcase.

"How about these?" I asked.

"Fine." She sighed. I made my way back over, avoiding her eyes as I grabbed the bottom of her pants, gently sliding them off and tossing them over into her pile of clothes. She reached her arms out, smirking back at me. I looking back down, giggling to myself as I shook my head, sliding her shorts up her legs.

"Now go to sleep." I said softly, motioning towards her pillows. She bit down on her lip, practically undressing me with her eyes. My heart was pounding. It was like she knew what she was doing to me. I stared back at her, my smile growing, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"You were amazing tonight." She said softly, gently touching my cheek. My smile grew as I placed my hand over hers.

"I didn't know you were looking at me." I said softly.

"I'm always looking at you." She whispered. I pulled my hand away, feeling it start to sweat as my heart swelled in my chest.

"I'm always looking at you, too."

She then moved her hand down, gently holding onto my arm for balance. I subconsciously flexed as I felt her grip get tighter. She smirked back at me.

"And.. I loved the song you wrote for me. I'm sorry I didn't say anything." She sighed, reaching her arm up and wrapping it around my neck, our faces now inches from each other. What was happening?

"It's.. it's okay." I said, shrugging. "I understand. You.. you should go to bed, Jess. You'll feel better." I hesitated before slowly reaching my hand up, gently running my fingers through her hair. She sighed, her eyelids getting heavier as she lied back down. A smile escaped my lips as I got up, but she reached out, grabbing onto my hand.

"Can you stay until I fall asleep?" She said softly, staring back up at me sleepily.

"Sure." I whispered, flashing her a wide grin. I would never need much convincing. I swung my legs over, lying down next to her on top of the covers. Reaching over, I twirled her hair around my fingers, gently rubbing her head.

I knew that always helped her fall asleep.

"Jake, I.. I hope our kids look like you." She whispered.

And in that moment.. I could feel my heart melting in my chest.

"Y-you do?" I giggled, flashing her wide grin. She nodded, her smile growing.

"Yeah.." She sighed. "Because.. you're so cute, and.. it makes it.. so hard to get mad at you." She laughed, nuzzling her face in my neck. I bit down on my lip. My mind was racing. What was going on? Was this just because she was drunk? Either way.. I was just.. happy to have her back in my arms again.

"I'm sorry for every time I made you get mad at me. I swear.. I'll never make you mad again." I said softly, looking down at her. She pushed herself to sit up, staring back into my eyes.

"Yes you will.." She said softly, swaying back and forth again. I smirked, gently holding her in place. "But.. that's okay, because.. couples fight, right? And.. I only want to fight.. with you." I quickly sat back up, facing her again.

"Really?" I whispered. She nodded.

"Really." She sighed, and then leaned in, gently kissing me on the lips. I thought my heart was going to explode. I sighed, reaching out, holding her face in my hands, pulling her closer, kissing her back.

Then I quickly backed away, leaning my forehead against hers.

No, no, no, no, no..

This wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

But she grabbed onto my shirt, pulling me back in, kissing me harder. I clenched my fists, doing my best not to push it any further. She was drunk, and for all I knew she wouldn't even remember this in the morning.

I backed away again, a smiling back at her.

"Jess.." I sighed. "This is all I want but-"

"Me too." She said, clinging onto my shirt.

"I.. I don't want to take advantage of you." I said softly, running my fingers through her hair.

"Jake, you're not, I-" I leaned in, gently kissing her cheek.

"You had a lot to drink, Jess." I laughed, staring back at her with dazed eyes. "And.. that's not how I want to do this. I'm.. I want to be better for you, and.. well, I kinda want you to remember it." I laughed. She nodded, biting down on her lip, staring back at me.

My eyes moved back down to her lips.

"Okay.." She sighed.

"But.. if you come and kiss me in the morning, then.. I'm all yours." I whispered, leaning in, gently kissing her forehead.

I then pushed myself back up from the bed, going over to the door.

"Jake.." She said. I instantly stopped, turning back around to face her.

"Yeah?" I asked, leaning in the doorframe, hanging on her every word. She was quiet for a moment, biting down on her lip, holding her stare on me.

"I love you." She finally said, and it felt like my entire body was on fire, like my heart could combust at any moment. I couldn't contain my smile, spreading from ear to ear, my cheeks burning bright red.

"I love you more, Jess." I sighed, before finally turning out the light and shutting the door behind me.

I sighed, leaning back against the door, slowly sliding all the way to the floor. I tried my best to calm myself down, my cheeks hurting from smiling so hard. I don't know what I would do if she didn't remember any of this tomorrow morning.