We sit on the couch eating popcorn and drinking Pepsi watching Home Alone. I'm sitting cross legged on the couch next to Jack and his arm is around my shoulders.

When we finish Home Alone he puts in the second one. I smile when he gets up to do it.

"Home Alone one is better than the rest." He says. I laugh and smile.

~Two weeks later~

We've started a band and we've played two gigs. Jack's been nice enough to deal with the money problems. He's been working every week really late to earn the money we need to play gigs. He comes to school tired and grumpy from working late shifts, but he tells me he's fine and just wants to get this band somewhere.

If you asked who the one person in the band who was the most determined to get this band going, the answer would be Jack. Sometimes he doesn't get anything more than ten minutes of sleep. Sometimes I'll offer to go in for him so he can get at least two hours in. He doesn't care.

He's been dedicated to this band since we started it. He won't even let us spot him money. He's earning all the money himself. Sometimes I don't see Jack for three days after school. It kills me, but he wants this. Really wants this.

I go to Jack's house hoping he's not working so I can hang out with him. If he's about to leave, I'll call up Rian. Rian can work for him since he works where Jack does. He needs sleep. Badly.

I knock on the front door so the family knows I'm about to walk in. I get into the house and see Jack scurrying to get ready.

"Jack! Jack!" I shout, grabbing his arm. He looks at me, sleep evident in his eyes. "Jack. C'mon. You need to sleep."

"No, Alex! No one can cover for me." Jack says.

"I'll call up Rian."

"No! We need the money!"

"Jack! Rian can get money for us." I say. "I don't want you to do all the work. Rian can make just as much money as you. You need sleep."

He sighs and nods. I call Rian and ask him to take over for Jack. He happily agrees and I lead Jack to bed.

We lie down next to each other and he looks at me. He's exhausted. I push hair out of his eyes and he gives me a tired smile.

"Get some sleep baby." I say, kissing him. He nods and rests his head on my shoulder. "I love you."

"I love you too." He says. I reach for my iPod that I put on the nightstand and put in ear buds. "Can you sing for me?"

"They're depressing songs."

"Sing one that's helped you." He says, motioning to my arms. I nod and scroll through my music library, finding There For You by The Undeserving:

I'll be there for you when the sky falls down I'll be there for you when no one's around I'll be there for you when there's no way out and you're down and you frown
I know life won't go your way and you never know what to say when you have nothing left I'll still love you more
I'll be there for you through your deepest fears I'll be there for you 'till the smoke clears I'll be there for you when you see no end and your friends are all gone
I know life won't go your way and you never know what to say when you have nothing left I'll still love you more
You could turn your back or run a thousand miles away I'll be waiting for you with nothing left to say but
I'll be there for you when nothing can go wrong I'll be there for you when you sing a joyful song I'll be there for you when your smile lights the room and your gloom is all gone
I know life won't go your way and you never know what to say when you have nothing left I'll still love you more

He smiles at me and I kiss him. I take his hand intertwining our fingers. He closes his eyes and I put that song on repeat.

As he sleeps, I hear him mumbling things. It's adorable. I smile when I hear my name a few times.

I look at my arms and sigh. How does he like a mistake like me? We've been dating for maybe six weeks and he loves me more than life. Why? He knows in cut, he knows I was anorexic. He's helped me, but why does he love me? I look at his peaceful sleeping face.

I can't help thinking of what would happen if I looked like that all the time. I'd be dead. Sometimes that's not a bad thing. At least it's not in my fucked up mind. Ugh. Why is my mind so fucked?

After three hours, Jack wakes up and I smile.

"What're still doing here?"

"I wanted to be here when you woke up." I say. He smiles and kisses me. "Sleep well?"

"I'm still tired, but I got sleep."

"Three hours isn't that bad." I say. He nods and curls into my side. I hold him close to me and my phone goes off.

I look at the time before answering it. It's ten o'clock.

"Hey, Rian." I say. I look at Jack who has falling asleep again.

"Hey, man! Zack and I found this HUGE venue where all the famous bands play and we can play there for five hundred dollars!" Rian says. I hear Zack shout a hey in the background.

"Are you serious?" I ask.

"Yes! We have at least three hundred fifty bucks and we have three weeks to earn the money to play there!" Rian says, excitedly.

"Sweet!"

"Is Jack asleep?" Zack asks.

"Yeah. He woke up after a three hour nap and fell asleep again." I say. "I'll give him the news when he wakes up."

"Cool!" Rian says. "We need a hundred fifty dollars and we're clear!"

"We all need to work. We have three weeks to earn $150 dollars! Sell stuff, whatever. We need the money." I say. After more talking, I hang up and look at Jack.

His eyes open and I smile.

"Good news." I say. He sits up quickly and smiles. "Rian and Zack found a HUGE venue to play at and the guys who own the place said if we have $500 dollars in three weeks, we can play there!" I say. "Before you say anything, Rian, Zack and I are going to work too. We all need to get money."

"Okay!" Jack says.

Jack's eyes are glowing with excitement. He deserves to be excited. He got most of the money. He was more determined than we were. He insisted on working late hours on school nights. He deserves this way more than the rest of us. But we're all putting in equal work even if Jack is doing the working for money.

Notes

Hai guys!!!
title and song credit to The undeserving "There For You"
check out my story "I'll Still Love You."
-Jenna