Dreaming With A Broken Heart

Alex placed a calming hand on Dash's restless knee. The two had been sitting on the couch for the past two hours, waiting for Sebastién and Pierre to return from the airport; Dash had been bouncing her knee impatiently ever since the two men left the house. She glanced up at Alex, muttered a quick 'sorry' before standing up and looking out the window. He couldn't help but smirk at the little girl in front of him.

"Oh mon dieu!" she said, letting out a breath. "They're here!" Dash tore from the living room and bounded out the front door as Pierre's rental car pulled into the driveway, Alex slowly following her. The moment that the car rolled to a stop, a tall blonde haired boy was jumping out of the car and tossing his arms around Dash. "I missed you so much," Alex heard her murmur as the boy clutched her tight to his chest.

A sharp bark ringing through the air caused Dash to pull away and look inside the car. "Bean!" she squealed, reaching inside the car and opening up the kennel to pull out a small dog that had more fur than anything else. She buried her face into the ball of fur as a large German Shephard slowly trotted around the back of the car, sitting outside and waiting his turn. "And Maxie," Dash grinned and crouched next to the big dog, wrapping her free arm around his neck.

"I don't get a hug?" Dash looked up to see a shaggy haired Ezra standing over her. She placed Bean on the ground and rose to wrap her arms around the man.

"You need a haircut," she said, laughing. Finally, she pulled away and turned to look over her shoulder, smiling when her eyes met Alex's. "Hey guys, there's someone I want you to meet."

Dash bounded over to where Alex was standing on the front step and took his hand in her own. She gave a slight tug, shooting him a reassuring smile as she dragged him over to her band mates.

"Guys, this is Alex." She glanced between the three men. "And Alex, meet Kane and Ezra. And of course, these nuisances are Max and Bean." Dash patted Max's head absentmindedly as Alex, Kane and Ezra greeted each other; exchanging 'what up bros' and 'nice to meet ya mans'.

"God, I've missed you two," Dash sighed, looking between her two band mates. She slipped her arm through Kane's elbow and tugged him towards the house. "I also need a drink."

"I concur!" Ezra announced, grinning and following his band mates.

Pierre turned to look at Alex and shrugged. "Let's get drunk."

×××

"Four?

Dash shook her head, her eyes gleaming mischievously as Alex shook his head and glanced at the row of cards on the table. All night, Alex had been introduced to an array of drinking games that his French companions were fond of. Kane had talked them all into playing a game that he called "Baise le croupier". Dash had told him that it loosely translated to "Fuck the dealer".

"That would be higher, Mr. Gaskarth."

Alex cursed before squeezing his eyes shut and quietly saying, "ten?"

Dash laughed and flicked the card down on the table. "Nice try, but it's a Queen."

He groaned and shook his head. "How many is that?"

"Three," came the reply. Alex shook his head and took a long drink from his bottle. "You damn Canadians and your drinking games."

As Dash tossed the last card in the pack on the table and Kane took a drink, Pierre and Ezra stood up from the table. "I think it's time for me to call it a night," Pierre announced. “I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“Me too,” Ezra agreed and Kane began to rise from the table as well.

Dash pouted at her friends. “But I'm not tired yet.”

Alex nudged the girl with his elbow. “I'll stay up with you, Frenchie. I'm still wired.”

Kane pressed his lips to the top of Dash's head as she bid them all a goodnight. As the group of three headed upstairs, Dash gathered the playing cards from the table and grabbed the neck of the vodka bottle that was sitting in the middle of the table. “Let's go downstairs,” she said, tapping Alex's shoulder with the bottle.

They slightly stumbled down the stairs into the basement. Dash settled herself on the couch and gestured to Alex to do the same.

“The name of the game,” she murmured, smirking at Alex, who couldn't help but grin back, “is strip poker.”

“Now this is going to get interesting.” Alex chuckled, rubbing his hands together. “Hit me with your rules, Frenchie.”

“Standard Texas Hold'em rules. Our bets are made with articles of clothing. Maybe the best woman win.”

“Bring it on, McCafferty.”

It quickly became apparent to Dash that she had underestimated Alex’s poker skills. He was matching her wins, each of them shedding layers as the other won the hand.

“I believe that one costs you that shirt,” Alex said with a grin, as he flipped over the last card to reveal he had a flush. Rolling her eyes, Dash pulled the thin camisole over her head and tossed it on the floor, too intoxicated to care that she was close to exposing herself to Alex. He dealt out the cards for another round. “What's your wager?”

Taking a peak at her hand, Dash grinned. An ace and a king, both spades. That was an excellent hand. Feeling cocky, she replied, “if you can win this hand, Gaskarth, you can have my bra.”

Alex cocked an eyebrow and shook his head. “You're something else, but okay. I'll take that bet. If not, my pants are yours.” Dash smiled broadly as Alex set up the cards. “You ready?” She nodded, biting her lip as Alex flipped over the first three cards – 4, 6, 7, all spades.

“You are going down,” she said, smirking at the boy sitting across from her.

“It's not too late to fold,” Alex told her.

“Just flip the cards.”

An 8 of spades, followed by the queen of hearts.

“Show us what you got, McCafferty.”

Dash grinned, tossing her cards face up onto the couch. “Flush.” Alex looked up to meet Dash's stare, a smile on his face.

“I wouldn't get too cocky.” He flipped his cards to reveal a 5 and 3 of spades.

Dash's jaw dropped. “You've got to be fucking me. A straight flush? That doesn't happen in real life.” Alex shrugged, the smile still on his face.

“It happens.”

Rolling her eyes, Dash muttered, “fine. The bra is yours.” She reached around her back to unhook the back.

“Hold on.” Dash looked up to see the grin gone from Alex's face. She raised an eyebrow, looking at him questioningly. He hesitated for a moment, before getting up from the couch and moving closer to Dash, crouching down in front of her.

“Alex, what-” Alex cut her off with a shake of his head. He stared at Dash for a moment, taking in her ponytail and messy makeup and thin faded red lips and freckled chest and black lace bra.

He handed her the thin camisole that she had tossed to the floor mere minutes ago. “Not like this,” he said. Standing up, Alex gathered up the cards. “I think that's enough poker for one night.”

×××

“Psst.”

Alex groaned as he registered a hissing noise in his ear. His mouth was dry and pasty, but other than that, he felt no repercussions from the night before. The last thing he vaguely remembered was Dash and Kane all but forcing shots of hard liquor down his throat.

“Psst.”

Hearing the annoying hiss again, Alex sighed and slowly eased one eye open to find Dash's green eyes staring back at her.

“You're an absolutely terrifying sight to wake up to,” Alex croaked, closing his eye again. “Go away. I'm sleeping.”

Dash let out a huff of breathe and rolled her eyes. “First of all, this is my bed, so if anyone is leaving, it's you.” Alex rolled over onto his back, opened both his eyes and looked around the room groggily. Sure enough, the room was littered with the proof that Dash was staying there: clothes on the floor, make up scattering on the bureau and desk, her guitar in the corner, a stack of notebooks sitting next to it. “Second of all, you're not asleep if you're talking to me with an attitude like that.”

“How did I end up in here?” Alex questioned, the confusion evident in his voice.

Dash shrugged and tossed the covers off her body, pulling herself out of bed. Alex found his eyes drawn to the girl's exposed legs which were sticking out from under an oversized black tee - “Hold on a second,” he said, sitting up. “Is that my shirt?”

She looked over her shoulder, grinning in response. “It looks better on me.”

“I won't disagree,” he murmured, following Dash's suit and getting out of bed. He stretched his arms over his head and yawned loudly. His gaze landed on the clock on the bedside table. “Have you lost your damn mind?”

Dash looked up from pulling a pair of jeans up her legs, a look of confusion on her face. “I didn't think so?”

Alex gestured wildly to the clock. “It's not even six a.m. Why would you wake me up? What is wrong with you woman?”

“I was lonely,” he received in response. Dash smiled at him as she pulled her hair into a ponytail, not bothering to run a brush through the tangles. “Besides, now you can take me for breakfast.”

Notes

& all the boys are smoking
menthols
girls are getting back
rubs.

So, um, it might have been four months since I last updated. But of course, you all probably know that. Oops.
I know this chapter in no way makes up for four months of silence, but this is finals season, so of course I will probably be spending more time on things that are unrelated to school.

Thanks to my commentor:
Beautifulbreakdown
And thanks to everyone who reads this. Again, I'm sorry for the silence.