"What did he mean.. he'll see you at the wedding?" Jake asked.

"N-not like that, he just.. he asked if I was going, and-"

"And you said you'd go with him?" He snapped. I felt my face get hot.

"Well, no, I just-"

"So you told him you were going with me."

"Well, technically we hadn't figured that out yet either, Jake." I muttered. He sat back, crossing his arms as he held his glare on me.

"Jaime, we did figure that out when you said you'd be my girlfriend. That means that we go to things.. together." He took a big sip of his drink, looking away. He wasn't wrong, but we had talked about the wedding before everything he had done for me, and I guess I really hadn't considered that. I really hadn't been anyone's girlfriend to the extent of.. just assuming these kind of things. It was all still new to me.

I got up, pulling my stool over next to him as he kept his gaze out at the rest of the bar. I reached over, gently turning his head to face me again, pulling him into a long, tender kiss. I felt him sigh, hesitating before leaning in closer, kissing me back harder, slowly moving his hand up my leg.

When I finally backed away, he was staring back at me with that dazed look in his eye, that same look that was reserved for only when we were.. alone.

"I thought we said.. no kissing." He exhaled, reaching back up for me, pulling me back in.

"I know, but.. it seemed like you needed it." His lips curled into a gentle smile as his fingers gently brushed against my cheek.

"I did." He whispered. "But.. you can't just kiss me every time we get into a fight."

"I didn't know this was a fight." I said, leaning my forehead against his. He bit down on his lip, trying to contain his smile.

"You're right, it's not, I never want to fight with you.." He said, kissing me again. "But.. what did you tell him?"

My eyes moved down to his lips, wanting nothing more than to just be back at my house alone with him.

"I just said that.. we might as well all go together, since we were all invited."

"Jaime, I just-"

"We agreed we wouldn't exclude him." I said. He stopped, holding his stare on me before eventually nodding.

"You're right." He sighed, pulling me back into another long kiss. I couldn't help but smile.

"And you can't just kiss me whenever you want to shut me up." I giggled, feeling my cheeks burn. He flashed me a wide grin, pulling me back into a series of kisses.

"I never want you to shut up." He laughed. "Let's talk for hours and hours."

I had barely had any of my drink so I couldn't blame my giddiness on the alcohol this time. He was just.. intoxicating.

"Let's compromise." He giggled, reaching over for me and effortlessly pulling me onto his lap. My heart jumped as I wrapped my arms around his neck, unable to contain my smile.

"Okay."

"We can all go together as a group, but.. you're my date. And you owe me.. at least one slow dance." I nodded.

"Deal."

It wasn't long before Jake was pulled away again, paraded around the bar by the label. I hung back at our table alone, watching him as he was celebrated the way he always deserved to be, smiling back at him every time he peeked over, giving me his "please save me!" eyes. How badly I wished I could just whisk us away, but tonight was about him, and I wanted him to enjoy it. It was one of the few moments I'd actually be able to enjoy with him before he left, even if it was just from afar.

"Having fun?" Sam asked, sitting down across from me. I nodded, keeping my eyes on Jake, taking another sip of my drink. I heard him giggling to himself.

"Can't even look away for a second, can you?" He said, shaking his head. I finally looked over, playfully rolling my eyes.

"Hi Sam."

"You having fun tonight?" I nodded.

"Sure."

"You're nice to play along." He said, taking a big sip. "Don't worry, he'd much rather be off somewhere with you too." I couldn't help but smile.

"So.. how did this happen?" He asked, motioning over towards Jake. I bit down on my lip, peeking back at him.

"I.. I don't know, I guess.. it's always been there and we both finally just.. figured it out." He nodded, smirking back at me.

"And.. Josh?" My heart dropped. Even still, I couldn't explain what happened with Josh. It was like.. in an instant, everything changed. And I didn't know why, but maybe we were just.. too familiar? When you're friends with someone for so long, it just feels like-

"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." He said softly.

"Has he.. said anything?" I pried. He smirked back at me.

"Oh, look who's curious now."

"I'm.. I'm not, I just-"

"Jaime.. he loves you." My heart jumped, my body getting hot.

"Sam.."

"I don't want to come between this, it's difficult enough as it is without me interfering, but.. Jaime, he.. he loves you. And.. I know what Jake has said, and.. I'm sure however you two feel about each other, it's.. but.. and I'll deny saying any of this to you.. Josh.. would do anything for you, Jaime. And people say that, I know, but Josh, he loves you.. so much, Jaime. And he'd never let it show, because if you're happy then.. he's happy. But.." He sighed, shaking his head, looking away. "He.. loves you."

"Sam.."

"I'm sorry, I.. I shouldn't have said anything. Jake is my brother too, and.. he hasn't shut up about you either. It's almost.. annoying." He laughed. "But.. as long as you're happy, I guess."

"W-what else has he said?" I asked. "J-josh, I mean."

"Jaime.."

"You're right.. I'm sorry." I muttered, taking another sip, scanning the bar, trying to find Jake again.

"I take it you noticed his.. new look." He giggled.

"Y-yeah. Was that.. did he do that-"

"Just to get someone's.. attention." He grinned, keeping his eyes forward. "And it seems like.. it worked." For me? He did all of that.. for me?

I looked back over across the bar to see Josh already looking back at me, giving me a soft smile. I quickly looked away as I felt my face get hot again.

"Enjoy your night." Sam said before grabbing his drink and heading over towards the rest of the guys.

What was I supposed to do with that? I couldn't help how I felt. After all these years, I thought that was it. I had loved him what felt like my entire life, but deep down, was it really only because I didn't think Jake would ever be an option?

I loved Josh, there was no doubt about that, and part of me felt like I would always love him. But.. it was just.. different. With Jake I felt.. excited and nervous and every time he looked at me, I had butterflies, and I had never experienced that kind of love before.

And that was the feeling everyone dreamt about.. right?

Finally, I saw Jake making his way back over to me, feeling my heart start to beat faster as he flashed me a smile.

"Hey, you.. wanna get out of here?" He whispered, leaning in close. I nodded eagerly as he took my hand, helping me down from the stool. His eyes were already bloodshot and tired, his hand searching for mine, intertwining our fingers.

"I already called us a car, it should be here in a few minutes." He said softly, leading me towards the door. I followed him closely, wrapping my arm around his.

When we got outside, we were met with the silence of the street, which was so comforting compared the endless roaring of the voices that filled the bar. He took my hand, twirling me around, pulling me in as he started swaying on the sidewalk.

"Are you drunk?" I asked. He laughed, leaning in closer, shaking his head.

"No." He sighed, leaning his forehead against mine. "You just.. you make me happy." My heart jumped as I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"You make me happy too." His smile grew as he pulled me into a gentle kiss, light caressing my face.

"I love you so much, Jaime." He sighed. I knew I would never get tired of hearing it, every time, I could feel my heart melting in my chest.

"And I love you."

These were the moments with him that truly felt like they were straight from the movies. I was instantly brought back to the night we were all gathered in their living room, and somehow it was decided that we would watch The Notebook. I assumed it was one of the girlfriend's ideas, and the guys just played along with hopes of getting lucky later, but that part I tried my hardest to block out.

But there was a moment when Noah and Allie were dancing in the street under the stop lights, and all I could imagine was how beautiful that moment would truly be with someone you loved, the simplicity of just dancing together, no music, nothing but each other in whatever was around, because nothing made you want to dance more than how much you loved them.

And I loved him.