The only choice is you

It felt different, Falling asleep with Paige. She let me pull her close and snuggle into her, something Grace would never let me do. Grace was always ‘This is your side, this is my side. Pretend there’s a line.’” She irritated me so much sometimes, but Paige, Paige was different. She’s never had anybody that cared for her and that intrigued me.I always had people who would ask how my day was or whether I was feeling well. She seems like she’s never had that.

It suddenly got cold and I shivered a little bit. That’s when I realized she was gone. I sat up quickly letting my eyes adjust to the light in her room. She was no where in sight. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the doorway and there she stood halfway in halfway out. She turned around. “Good morning and I’m sorry.” She said quickly playing with her fingers. “No, you’re fine. Everyone has rough days.” I added with a smile. “No, I’m talking about making you sleep with me when you have a girlfriend. I-” “I don’t have a girlfriend.” I said all too quickly.

That is the reason I’m down here, to get my girlfriend back but here I am telling Paige I don’t have one. She just stood there, I’m assuming at a loss for words. “I mean, she told me yesterday we were not dating.” I corrected. “Right.” She said and turned away from me. She had a shirt on now, but only a shirt over her underwear and bra. She left the room and went to the kitchen I’m assuming. I stood up and followed her into the kitchen. I walked in as she pulled out glasses and plates along with a pan.

“So do you not have a hangover?” I asked. She shook her head. “Nope. As soon as I found out where the liquor cabinet was I started drinking to ease the pain of what my family did to me, not to mention what happens at school.” She turned and pointed a spatula at me. "Which I gladly no longer have to deal with." She said and turned back around. "So do you not have plans for like college or anything?" I asked taking a seat on a stool.

"No. I just wanna travel, see the world you know. Go to Europe and Africa. Fuck I wanna run away to Australia." She said cracking eggs into the pan. "But I guess if I was to go to school for anything it would be to cook, I love to cook. Im good at it, or at least think I am." She said letting out a laugh. "Anything's Better than frozen Eggo waffles every morning." I added in attempt to hear her laugh, which worked.

She finished our breakfast and passed it over to me. She sat down and ate with me. "This is delicious." I said to her with my.mouth full. She giggled. "Glad you like it, but its just eggs, toast and sausage." "Yeah but they’re all delicious." I added. She turned her head to me and smiled but then continued eating. We finished placing the dishes in the sink then I went into the guest room and she went to hers, im assuming to get dressed. I got dressed And left the guest room. When i entered back into the living room she was sitting on the couch.

"So what do you do around here for fun?" I asked plopping myself back onto the couch. "Well," she said turning to me. "We could go to the movies." She suggested. "No, thats boring." I said. "There is the World of Coke or the Gone with the Wind museum, the High museum, or the Uncle Remus museum." She said sitting up. "Why would I become a traitor and go to the World of Coke?" I asked referring to my allegiance to Pepsi. "Where are you from, Blink?" She asked standing up.

"Baltimore, Maryland." I said standing up with her. "Wow, way up north." She said grabbing her shoes. I grabbed mine and slipped them on. "Where are we going?" I asked as we made our way out of the house. "The world of Coke, then we're gonna walk around Atlanta a little." She said opening the garage door. My mouth dropped at the sight that was in there. "Why the fuck would you ride a skateboard when you have this magnificent car in your garage?!" I asked in shock staring at the car.

"Because people react like you are right now and I don’t really like it." She said getting in the front seat. I got in the passenger seat. "How could you not like it?!" "Cause its just a symbol of my parents wealth. I want either a 1967 Chevy Impala or an old Volkswagen bug.” She smiled at the thought of the cars, which I found cute.Then she revved the engine of her Porsche Carrera Gt and pulled out of the garage. We backed down her driveway then she closed the garage with one of those button things.

We headed out her neighborhood and down to where I guess was the highway. We hopped on. “So, other than blink, what do you listen to?” I ask as we get down the road some ways. “Um, a little bit of everything I guess. Like if I was to choose one single artist as my favorite it would have to be Garth Brooks but if I had to choose a band well then fuck, I have no idea.” She said, I only laughed. She turned to me. “What’s so funny, Blink?” She asked raising an eyebrow. “Nothing just so typical. I’m assuming he is a country artist, correct?” “Yeah but-” “No buts. That’s what I figured.” I said leaning back in my seat.

“Shut it. He’s an amazing man, I’d kill someone to meet him.” She said continuing to drive down the road. “Wow, murder to meet someone famous.” I said mocking her. “Oh yeah, making fun of me. What would you do to meet Mark Hopus?” She asked. “Well, I’ve met him.” I said as she turned a little to look at me. “What? You’ve met him?” She asked completely shocked. “Well, yeah.” “How did you manage that?” She asked.

Then I went into a story of how we met them, me and the guys meeting the guys from blink for the first time. “And you just happened to find them on tour?” She asked as we pulled into a parking lot. “I’m in a band and we met them that way.” “I didn’t know you were in a band. Are you famous?” She asked as we clambered out of the car. “Yeah, sorta.” I said walking beside her. “So, if people see you in here and recognize you can I act as your bodyguard and tell them no signings and no flash photography?” I laughed and nodded. “Yeah, but I’d do anything they asked. Without them I’m just a creeper who hits on young children.” I added making her laugh at loud letting a little snort pass through her lips.

“You snorted.” I pointed out. She looked away covering her face. “Yeah, don’t remind me.” She looked back her cheeks a little flushed. “Do you have the little blue circled check next to your twitter pic, if you have a twitter. That’s the only realize you’re actually telling me the truth.” She said as we entered the building. I whipped out my phone and pulled up twitter. I twisted it around and showed her. “See official, no come here.” I said and grabbed her making her stand in front of me. She did and I moved my head around her so I rested my chin on her shoulder. I snapped a pic of us uploading it to instagram. “Do you have a instagram?” I asked as we walked over to the counter. “Yeah.” “What’s your username?” I asked. She told me and I tagged her in it. ‘Having a great day at the World of Coke with my good friend @theplacewhereib :)’ I let it upload and ran after Paige.

“Nice name by the way.” She smiled. “Thanks, it actually took a little time to come up with.” “Mines lame, it’s just @JackAllTimeLow.” I sighed a little. “Why All time low?” “That’s the name of the band I’m in.” I said as we went around looking at various cool things around the place. “So what do you do in this band of yours?” She asked. “Well, I play the guitar.” “Lead guitarist, that’s cool. I have a couple guitars at the house if you wanna show me something later.” “Do you not play?” I asked walking besides her.

She was wearing some ripped jeans with a black hoodie and a tank top, red, that said orgasm donor. I really need the shirt though. “Nah, my brother is the one that played. He was gonna teach me but when you die you sorta break promises.” She said nonchalantly. I kept quiet as we read facts about Coca-Cola that I didn’t really care about I was just watching her walk around and read things. That’s when my phone started to ring. I yanked it out of my pocket and pushed it up to my ear.

Me: Hello, Jack speaking.
Alex: Hey, how’s it going getting back Grace?
Me: Who?
Alex: Grace...you know, your girlfriend.
Me: Right, well she yelled at me and told me that we’re not dating anymore so I left it at that.
Alex: What?! You flew all the way down to Georgia so close to tour just to let her go so easy? Now don’t get me wrong, you know I don’t like her never did but seriously?
Me: Well...yeah. I knew she was cheating on me anyways.
Alex: Alright, well next question. Who is @theplacewhereib?
Me: My friend Paige that I met down here.
Alex: Ok, third question. We need you to come back, so when you coming back?
Me: Why do you need me to come back? I’m enjoying myself, Paige and I went out today and we’re having fun and I don’t want to leave yet, I was gonna teach her to play guitar and-
Alex: Jack, listen to yourself, you sound like you like this chick.
Me: What, pfff, no. We’re just friends.
Alex: Oh yeah, how did you meet?
Me: I didn’t have anywhere to stay so she let me stay with her.
Alex: WOW, dude. just wow lik-
Me: I don’t wanna talk about this right now, I’ll call you later to figure out when I should be back.

I hung up on Alex and turned back to where Paige was. Some guy was standing next to her and talking making her giggle and nod. Something was off about what I was feeling and I couldn’t stop my feet I walked back over clenching my phone in my fist. “Hey, Paige sorry bout that.” I said trying to give the guy a hint to walk away. “That’s fine.” She said smiling at me. “Hey, I’m Kyle.” The kid said holding his hand out I shook it and turned back to Paige. “Are you hungry? Let’s go get something to eat.” I suggested taking her hand and pulling her away. “Bye Kyle!” She yelled. “Bye Paige!” He yelled back. I rolled my eyes as we headed for the exit.

“Blink, slow down. The food’s not goin anywhere.” She said laughing making my whole mood change. “Yeah I guess. Where should we eat?” I asked. She pushed the button on her key ring popping the locks. “The Varsity.” She said getting in her seat. “What is that?” I asked taking mine. “A burger joint, they have the best chilli burgers EVER.” She sang the last word starting her car. I laughed. “Ok, sounds...interesting.” I said as we went down the road. “Yeah, it’s really good.”

The short car ride was done in mostly silence other than her occasionally pointing out things. We pulled up to a large building. “This is a big burger joint.” I said looking around. She pulled up and it was a car hop which was pretty cool. “Alright, I’m gonna order for you if you don’t like it then you can get something else, alright?” She said. “Yeah that’s fine as long as I can pay.” I added. “No, blink I can pay-” “Paige, let me pay please?” I leaned my head and made big puppy eyes at her.

“Fine.” She said. “But only cause you’re cute.” I smiled and blushed at the fact she called me cute, which is odd cause I’m not normally one of those people to get nervous, self-conscious, or blush but it seems to only happen around or because of Paige. She just different. We sat in the car telling each other weird things about ourselves. “Don’t make fun of me but I can play the banjo.” She said looking at me. “Why would I laugh, that’s so cool.” She smiled. “I’ve also been known for telling lame jokes like: Why do sharks only swim in salt water?” She turned away to try and keep a straight face.

“I don’t know, why?” “Cause pepper water makes them sneeze!” She put her face in her hands and laughed. I laughed too cause as lame as it was it was cute and it was adorably hilarious how funny she thought it was. “Sorry, I know so lame.” She said once she could breathe again. “No, it was actually funny.” I said smiling. She smiled back. Then my phone buzzed, signalling I got a text message. I looked down at it, it was from Alex. ‘I booked you a flight for tomorrow afternoon, so say goodbye to “Paige” and come back to your real life.’ I rolled my eyes sending a reply.

‘Maybe I don’t want to leave, maybe I found someone who is as lame and childish as I am, and I think I’m really helping her life.’ ‘Jack, that’s absurd. You’ve been there what 2-3 days! You can’t help her life in that time.’ ‘Yes, you can and I did. Her parents never came in for her graduation, her graduation Alex. No one showed up, If I hadn’t been there she would have gotten beaten up and ever worse, ok.’ ‘She’s in high school Jack, High school!? Are you shitting me?!’ ‘I’ll be home tomorrow alright, just shut up.’

I finished our text conversation just as our food came out. We got the same thing fries and a chilli burger. Just as she said it’s delicious and totally worth the wait. “This is amazing.” I said. “Right, it’s like deliciousness and perfection had a baby in my mouth.” I laughed and she turned and looked at me. “It’s true, don’t deny it.” I nodded my head and we finished. We left and headed back towards Paige’s house. When we eventually pulled up to her house and hopped out I turned to her. “If you had to live up north where would you live?” She closed door and turned to me. “Um, maybe Pennsylvania or New York.” I nodded my head and followed her inside.

When we entered and kicked off our shoes she turned to me. “Teach me a song you’re the guitar man, teach me a song tonight.” She sang. I laughed as she stared at me. “Billy Joel really?” I said. “He’s great, what can I say.” She led me down the hall to a room, it had a couple instruments in it and I instantly went to the Ibanez acoustic. “Wow.” “Yeah, it was my brothers. His pride and joy.” She said. I put it down. “It’s ok if you play it, blink.” She said I looked at her again and she nodded. I picked it up again and sat on the floor she followed.

“Alright well the tune of this song is Therapy.” I said and played the one I heard Alex play a billion and one times. “Wow, that’s amazing. I wonder what the words sound like?” She said looking at me. “No, now way. I’m a terrible singer.” “Come on, Blink it’s just you and me here.” “No.” I said again. She stuck out her bottom lip and pouted. “Please? Just a couple lines?” I turned to her. “An what do I get out of this?” She looked around. “I’ll…. I’ll kiss you.” She said and smiled. My eyes opened wide. “Deal?” She asked. “Deal.” I said back, then I realized what exactly I had just agreed to.

I looked down at the guitar. “Give me therapy, I’m a walking travesty but I’m smiling at everything. Therapy, you were never a friend to me, and you can choke on your misery.” I finished with the plucking part and turned to her. Her mouth was slightly opened. “That was awesome.” I rolled my eyes. “Yeah righ-” I started but before I could finish her lips were pressed against mine. I had a tingly sensation that started in my lips but continued down my cheek when she placed her hand against my scruffy jaw. I reached over and pulled her by the hip closer. She fell right into my lap and I traced my tongue along her bottom lip, asking for entrance.

She slightly parted her lips and I pushed my tongue in. Mine instantly found hers and they danced together. She pulled away to get a breath and leaned her forehead against my shoulder and had one hand on each shoulder, sitting sideways on my lap. That’s when I ruined everything. “I have to leave tomorrow.” I said quickly. She leaned her head up and looked at me. Her lips slightly more red now and her eyes sad but her cheeks flushed. “O-ok.” She said and stood up. She walked to the door. “N-night, Jack. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She added quickly and left the room. I sat on the ground for a few processing what had just happened and what I had just done, but every time I started to think I would be brought back by the still tingly sensation in my cheek and lips for where she had touched me and I couldn’t help but feel empty noticing she was now gone.

Notes

wow....that took longer than I thought...sorry bout that but hopefully you like it. If you do say so!!! I love you guys!!! :P

outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/chapter/set?id=112593793