"It's nice having someone over here on my side for a change." Sam laughed, lifting his bass over his head and adjusting it into place.

"What are you talking about? Leah was always over here." I said, leaning back up against the wall, trying my best to stay out of everyone's way. Ever since Leah and Ayla had to leave, I could tell Sam was starting to get lonely again, so me needing my space from.. everyone else.. couldn't have come at a better time. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed spending time with him.

"Yeah, but.. she's my girlfriend, she has to watch me. I'm telling myself you're over here because you want to be." I nodded, smirking back at him.

"Well, you have gotten much better since the garage, so it's at least bearable now." I laughed. He rolled his eyes, smirking back at me.

"See, that's the honesty I need."

"Glad I can help."

I could tell he was trying his hardest not to bring anything else up, and I appreciated it. I needed some time to not think about it, hoping maybe that would make it a little bit easier when I finally had to deal with everything.

"You know, we've only got a few more shows left before we head home for Thanksgiving." He said, peeking out at the audience.

"Are you excited?"

"I guess a little bit." He shrugged. "I don't know, I like being out here, it's fun. But.. you know, there are obvious things you miss."

"Like what?" I asked. I could tell he was trying to hold in his smile, avoiding my eyes.

"Just.. things. Like.. real food, a real bed.."

"Leah?" He playfully rolled his eyes, finally smiling back at me.

"Yeah, sure. I guess her too." He giggled to himself.

I knew how much he hated getting like this, at least around other people, so it was nice that he was finally opening up about it to me, even if it was just a little bit. It made it easier to open up to him about things too.

"What are you doing this year?" He asked. I shrugged, unable to remember what we had done over the past few years now. We could never really do anything too big with my mom, limited in what she could even eat, let alone cook for that long. I tried my best, but anything I made never compared to the Thanksgivings we've had when I was younger. I always remembered it being such a huge deal, alternating years with them next door, and then going to my grandparent's house on my dad's side, but we haven't really heard from them in years.

"I.. um.. I'm not really sure." I muttered. "We'll.. we'll probably do something with my aunt, maybe." He peeked back at me, his face dropping.

"Well, I remember you guys used to come over all the time. Why don't you have it with us this year? There's always plenty of room, you can sit at the kids table with us." He joked.

"Yeah.. maybe. I'll.. I'll see what she wants to do." He nodded, holding his stare on me.

"Well, we'd love to have you guys. I can tell my mom, it'll be no problem." I couldn't help but smile, appreciating having him so much more at a time like this.

"That would be nice." I sighed.

"Then that settles that. We'll see you there."

"Well, look who's here!" I heard from behind us. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever." My stomach dropped as I saw Liam make his way through the wings, coming over and standing a little too close. I could see Sam watching carefully as he pretended to tune his bass, slowly making his way back over.

"O-oh, yeah um.. guess we must've missed each other." I said, feeling my face get hot. He shook his head, his smile growing.

"No way, I've been looking for you. Have you been avoiding me?" He laughed, leaning in closer, forcing me to smell the alcohol on his breath. I never understood how musicians could play when they were drunk. It looked hard enough to me sober.

"No, I've just.. I've been around, I guess."

"Jake must've been trying to keep you away from me. Well.. he's not here now, so that's good." I felt my heart starting to beat faster, wanting nothing more than for him to be here now. The last thing I wanted was for Liam to know that we weren't together anymore, especially if this was how he acted when he thought we were.

"Well, I'm.. I'm sure he'll be here any minute." I said, peeking out into the hallway behind him, praying to at least catch a glimpse of him. Despite our situation, I liked to think he would still help me if he knew I felt uncomfortable.

"Jaime, can you come help me with something?" Sam said, making his way back over. I went to follow him when I felt Liam's hand tightly wrap around my wrist, pulling me back towards him.

"She's fine, Sam. We're just talking." Sam quickly looked over at me, to which I subtly shook my head.

"Yeah, well.. I think she's done talking. Come on." He reached his hand out for me when Liam pulled me back again.

"Just relax, we're all just hanging out. After all that's what we do, right?" He said. What did he mean 'that's what we do?' Was he like this with all the girls backstage? Is that what he was talking about the other night? Either way, it was the last place I wanted to be right now.

"Just leave her alone, she's not like that." Sam insisted.

"Come on, they're all like that, why else would they be here?"

"Well.. she's not, so-"

"Hey, what's going on?" My heart jumped as Jake made his way backstage, peeking into the wings, his eyes getting wider as they met mine, his face instantly turning red with anger when he noticed Liam gripping me tightly.

"Don't worry about it, Jakey, we're just hanging out." He laughed, now wrapping his arm around me, pulling me in closer.

"Yeah, well, you're done hanging out." He snapped, holding his hand out. "Come on, Jaime."

"She can do whatever she wants."

"You're right, she can, and she wants to come with me. Come on." He waved me over again, but I felt Liam's grip get tighter, now unable to move.

"Let her go!" Jake finally yelled, shoving him back hard against the wall. I quickly maneuvered out of Liam's grip and ran over to Sam, hiding behind him. Liam didn't hesitate to shove Jake back harder, having him stumble over the cables and eventually catch himself on rack of basses behind him.

"I'm the only reason you're out here!" Liam yelled, shoving him again, tightly grabbing onto his shirt, and pushing him back up against the wall. "Don't try to act all high and mighty now like you're not like the rest of us out here. Is she really worth fucking all of this up?" Jake pulled himself out of his grip, shoving him back again.

"I'm not like any of you! I would never do the shit you've done." Liam laughed, shaking his head.

"Don't be stupid, Jake. She's not worth it. None of them are. They hop around to whoever can give them the attention they want, you're garbage to them too so don't let them fuck up your life for nothing."

And then in a flash, Liam was on the floor, Jake over him, getting in as many swings as he could before Sam managed to pull him off of him, yanking him across the wings and out into the hallway. I quickly followed them towards the dressing rooms but not until I heard Liam call out behind us.

"You're done! Go home!"

My heart sunk.

Jake instantly pulled away, going into the bathroom and slamming the door behind him as Sam plopped down onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh as he ran his fingers through his hair. I waited until I heard the water running and the bathroom fan humming loud enough for him not to hear us.

"Did you hear him?" I whispered. Sam nodded, keeping his eyes focused on the ceiling.

"Yeah." He sighed.

"You.. you don't think he meant it.. do you?" I asked. He hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Yeah." He finally said. "I do."

I went over to the bathroom, carefully turning the knob to feel that he hadn't locked the door, knowing that meant I was allowed to come in. I slowly opened the door to see him holding up a damp washcloth to his face, turning around to face me as he saw me in the mirror's reflection.

I made my way over, taking the washcloth from his hands, feeling him wince as I lightly held it up against his face. I could already see the light purple forming under his eye.

"Looks like he got at least one in." I giggled. He smirked back at me.

"Yeah, he did." He sighed. We stayed quiet as I rinsed off the washcloth again, lightly wiping the rest of his face. He held his stare on me the entire time, making my heart beat faster.

"You didn't have to do that." I finally said. "You know what this could mean, right?" He nodded, staying quiet.

"You do? You know what this could mean and you still thought it was a good idea? After all of your hard work, you're gonna throw it away? Just like that? For what?"

"For you." He whispered, looking away. My heart jumped.

"You know I'm not like him, right?" He asked.

"Of course I do."

"I just.. I couldn't listen to him talk about you like that."

"It's okay, it doesn't mean anything." I said softly, gently combing my fingers through his hair.

"It does though. Here it does. And he knows that. You don't talk like that about girlfriends." I bit down on my lip, it now taking everything in me not to remind him of where we stood. I knew he knew. And now wasn't the time for that conversation. But I understood. As far as Liam was concerned, Jake and I were still together. And honestly, it was probably for the best to let him think that for as long as possible.

"Well.. thank you." I finally said, trying to contain my smile, feeling my cheeks burn. He smiled back at me, gently placing his hand over mine as I held the washcloth back up to his face again.

"I told you, Jaime. You come before.. anything."