I waited outside until I finally saw him hop out of his front door, quickly making his way over. I couldn't help but smile, feeling my heart beat faster the closer he got, flashing me a toothy grin when he finally saw me.

"Hey." He sighed, staring back at me with his eyes in a daze. He was just.. so cute. It took everything in me to just keep my hands to myself.

"Hey.." I whispered, biting down on my lip. I reached out for his hand, intertwining our fingers as I lead him towards the back door, quickly pulling him inside. My heart jumped at the sound of is quiet laughter behind me.

"What's the rush?" He asked as I guided us through the kitchen and up to my room. Before going inside, I stopped, leaning back against the door. He stared back at me, his eyes moving down to my lips.

"It's just.. um.. before you come in, I just-"

"Are you okay?" I nodded, feeling my cheeks burn.

"I'm okay, it's just.. I.. um.."

"You sure you're okay?" He asked, now reaching up, gently caressing my cheek. It felt like my whole body was on fire as he stared back at me with those big, beautiful eyes.

"Josh and I broke up."

He carefully pulled his hand away, staring back at me wide-eyed.

"Oh.." He finally managed. "O-okay."

"I don't know if he told you, or-"

"No. He didn't."

"Okay. Well.."

"Are you alright?" I nodded, reaching out for his hand again. His smile grew as his eyes moved down to them, slowly intertwining our fingers.

"Okay, um.. come on." I finally said, bringing him into my room. He made his way in, shoving his hands into his pockets as he slowly moseyed around. I crawled onto my bed, sitting back against the pillows as he finally got to my desk, plopping down in its chair.

"So, where's this pick?" He asked. "You lose it already?" I shook my head, smirking back at him.

"I would never lose anything you gave me." I said softly, placing it in his hand. He held on for a moment, keeping his eyes locked on mine before rolling back over to the desk, pulling a silver chain out of his pocket.

"You just have those lying around?" I asked. He shook his head, keeping his eyes down.

"I went out and got it for you today." He said softly, carefully piercing a small hole at the top of the pick. I propped my head up onto my hand, watching him carefully as he effortlessly stringed it through, like he had done this a thousand times.

"How many of these have you made for your other girlfriends?" I asked, nervously laughing to myself, instantly regretting asking that. He smirked back over at me, his cheeks burning red.

"I told you, I wouldn't give one to just anybody." My heart jumped.

"So then..

"This is the first one I've ever made. Now come here.." He said, holding it out to me. I sat back up, moving closer to him. He leaned in, our faces now inches away as he reached his arms around me, clasping it behind my neck. As he backed away, he looked down to admire it, gently holding it in his fingers again. I stared back up at him, feeling like my heart was going to burst out of my chest.

"I wrote my first song with this." He said, peeking up at me.

"And.. you're giving it to me?"

"Well, it was about you. So.. it seems fitting."

"Really?" I asked, unable to contain my giddy grin. He nodded, his smile growing too.

"Have I ever heard it?" He shook his head, now avoiding my eyes.

"W-when did you write it?" He hesitated for a moment, awkwardly rolling further away, leaning his head back.

"The day you moved in."

The day I moved in? So.. the day we met?

So this whole time..

"Will you ever play it for me?" He shrugged, rolling back over to me, gently brushing his leg up against mine.

"Maybe. Depends." He giggled, leaning his arm up onto my desk, staring back at me from over his hand.

"What did you want to say last night?" I asked, lying back down. He stared back at me, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean.. last night, you said if we talked again, you'd tell me what you wanted to say."

"Oh.." He giggled to himself, trying his best to cover his blushing face. "That's.. that's nothing. We don't have to talk about that right now."

"But you promised." He scrunched up his face, his lips eventually curling into a playful smile again.

"I guess I did.." He sighed, rolling his eyes. "Okay, so.. they scheduled a tour."

My heart sunk.

I was waiting for it, but it still felt like a punch to the gut.

"Oh.." I managed, forcing a smile. He nodded. "Well.. that's.. that's exciting, right?"

"Yeah." He sighed, not seeming as enthusiastic as I thought he would.

"W-what's wrong?" He shrugged, leaning back in the chair again.

"Nothing's wrong. I don't know. I just thought I would feel.. different. Excited, I guess."

"Well, at least you won't have to worry about girlfriends on tour, you could have a different girl every night." I sneered. He shook his head, holding his stare on me.

"I wish I did have a girlfriend to worry about." He mumbled. I felt my body get hot, my heart skipping a beat.

"What?" I asked. He shook his head, looking away.

"Nothing. I, um.. well, the point being, I.. well, I guess.. considering, this would make things a little.. uncomfortable now.." He trailed off.

"What is it?"

"Well, I was actually wondering what your plans were for the fall? It's not gonna be comfortable, but.. if you wanted to.. if you can, I was wondering.. well, I.. I'd love for you to come with us." He finally forced out, peeking back up at me nervously.

I couldn't help but smile, remembering what my mom had said about my dad, suddenly becoming conscious of how much my face began to hurt whenever I was around him.

"Jake.. what are you doing?"

"Jaime, you told me to jump, so.. I'm jumping." He laughed. "Now.. you can say no, and make me feel like an idiot for even asking, or.. you could say yes.." He said, his smile growing as he rolled the chair closer to my bed. I shook my head, unable to contain my giddy laughter as he flashed me that charming smile that could get him whatever he wanted.

"I'll think about it." I laughed, leaning in closer. He bit down on his lip, smirking back at me.

"That's better than a no."

As the night carried on, I could feel my eyelids start to get heavier as I drifted further and further into my bed, eventually cuddling under the covers while he still stayed put in the chair, never once trying to push it any further, but I could see his tired eyes drooping, struggling to keep his head up while doing his best to not make it too obvious of how uncomfortable he was.

"Jake.." I finally muttered, feeling the overwhelming tiredness take over. It was almost worse than being drunk, having no excuse for the lack of filter when your heart was just as tired as you were from holding everything in.

"Mhm?"

"I forgive you." I said softly, my eyes slowly beginning to close. He held his stare on me, obviously confused, but didn't fight me on it. "You really didn't do anything wrong, but I was hurt, and I just.. I wanted it to be me, but.. I need to forgive you." He gave me a gentle smile, reaching out for my hand.

"Thank you, Jaime." I held on tighter, intertwining our fingers before I felt him get up, instantly waking me back up again.

"Where are you going?" I asked. "You don't have to-"

"Yes I do." He laughed, now leaning down, gently kissing my forehead. I forced myself to sit back up, watching him as he made his way over to my door. Before leaving, he hung back in the doorway for a minute, staring back at me with a gentle smile. I pulled my knees up against my chest, leaning my chin on top.

"Can I walk you back home?" I asked. He shook his head, giggling to himself.

"No, you stay there. You look comfortable. I think I can find my way back."

"Okay." I sighed, searching my brain for anything I could say to make him stay, even for just a few more minutes.

"Goodnight, Jaime."

"Goodnight, Jake."

I listened carefully as he made his way down the steps and out the front door. I quickly got up from my bed, going over to my window to see him just outside his door, already looking back up at me. He gave me a gentle wave, hanging back in the doorway again. I blew him a kiss, wishing I had had the guts to give him a real one before he had left.

He pretended to catch it, placing it on his lips before making his way back inside.