The only choice is you

I felt the bed shift and body push to my back. I was sleeping but it was a restless sleep, I lied awake mostly watching Paige making sure she was gonna be ok. I smiled and I felt her grip on my torso from behind tighten. “Blink,” She whispered. “What, woman?” I questioned smiling. “Where are we? And it’s fuck cold in here.” She said. I smirked and rolled over pulling her closer. “About 8 hours into the drive. and yeah it is, so curl further into me.” I said as she did so. I went to reach over and grab the blanket from behind her.

“You’re not wearing any pants.” I said jokingly. “Yeah, I don't like pants.” She said as I pulled the blanket over us. “Thank you again, Jack.” I stared at her face, which even with still tear stained, mascara run face was beautiful. “I mean I’ve never had someone who cared enough to do anything for me like this.” She said. “Well, I recall a girl wearing shorts and a cardigan walking up to a man who was slightly dumb that day and offering him a place to stay.”

She giggled. “Yeah, that would be me.” She pulled away from me and grabbed the sweat pants I had given her and pulled them on her body over a pair of my boxers. “Let’s get driving again. It is like 10:30.” She said smiling. I sat up running a hand through my untamable hair. “How’s your...body?” I asked loosely trying not to trigger anything. She shrugged. “I’m fine, I’m used to it.” She said grabbing my wallet phone and her keys along with her phone. “I’m sorry.” I said as she turned to me. “It's not your fault.” “It’s not yours either.” I rebuttled and stood up.

“Ooooh, Blink!” She said holding my ringing phone. “Who is Alex?” Smirking at me she jumped on the bed when I went to get it from her. “My best friend, now give it.” “Your bestie! Hmm, is it a girl?” She asked. “No, he’s a guy. Alex is short for Alexander.” I said grabbing her ankle and pulling. She yelped and fell to the bed full of laughs. I crawled on top of her and grabbed my phone.

“Hello.” I said answering it in just enough time. She wiggled underneath me and huffed when I wouldn’t move. ‘Dude, how much longer?’ Alex asked. “We have about 4 more hours, about.” I said as Paige’s hands trailed up my thighs and headed towards my stomach. “Stop that, you’re gonna make me laugh.” I said talking to Paige. She smiled at me and continued. ‘Who are you talking to...oh right… PAIGE.’ I could tell he didn’t like her very much. “Don’t act like that, Lex. You don’t even know her, she’s really cool, I mean she took in your stupid best friend.”

‘Yeah but she has you wrapped around her finger, and I don’t like women who have more control over you than I do. I also doubt she’s as cool as you say’ He said into the phone. “You know I can hear you?” She said out loud. “I think I’m pretty cool.” She continued. I laughed as I could imagine Alex’s face completely red right now. “She likes Blink 182 and has a Jack tattoo. Cool enough to hang with me. We’ll see you later, bye.” I said hanging up my phone. Paige’s finger went to my stomach and started to tickle. I couldn’t contain my laughter and she got me rolled over and crawled over top of me.

“Ha, pinned ya again.” She said leaning over me with her hands rested atop my chest and legs straddling my hips. “Did you just quote the Lion King?” I questioned. She smiled and nodded. “Maybe.” She continued biting her lip and standing up. “I’m gonna go get clothes out of the car, be right back.” She said and left the room with her keys and a key card in hand. I took it upon myself to get dressed as well and went to the bathroom where I had pulled out some clothes last night and placed there. I slipped them on and left the bathroom just as she was coming back in. She walked past me and went into the bathroom. I sat on the edge of the bed and checked my phone notifications which I have ignored most of the weekend.

Most of them were people on Twitter and Instagram asking if she was my new girlfriend and whether Grace and I broke up. I ignored those and went and took a pic of my smiling face for Insta and made the caption ‘Headin’ home, yea back to Baltimore, with @theplacewhereib Had a fun time in Georgia, and yes Grace Fillings and I broke up. :)’ I locked my phone after posting that gold as Paige left the bathroom. “You know cause of that jerk I have to wear jeans and a sweater during summer...SUMMER.” She said dramatically sitting next to me on the bed. “You still look pretty.” I said smiling. She gave one back and handed me a beanie.

“Here, so you don’t have to do your hair.” I took it and placed it on my head. I stood up and she did the same. “Come on, let’s get on the road.” I said and we left the room with all of our belongings. We headed towards the check out counter and turned in our keys. “You both make a cute couple.” The woman behind the counter said handing me back my credit card, after I argued with Paige about it. “Oh, we aren’t…” I started. She nodded. “Yeah, we’re not a couple.” Paige said and I nodded. “Ahh, but for how long.” She said winking and turning around.

Paige and I left the building and headed towards her car. “Here, you know this area better than me.” She said throwing me the keys. “That and my legs still hurt.” She said getting in. I couldn’t help but let a little anger make it’s way back in. I mean what anyone did to her yesterday was wrong. I got in and started the car. “Alright, Blink. What’s your bands name?” She asked looking up something on her phone. “All Time Low, why?” I asked pulling onto the highway. “Cause I wanna listen to it.” She said hooking up her phone.

The first one to play was Dear Maria of course. She did little dance moves which made me laugh. “You know this is really good.” She said as it shuffled through and picked another song. That Girl cam on next followed by So Long Soldier. She even started her own dance to So long and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life. “Alright, enough listening to you play your heart out. My turn to put on some music you’ve never heard but will love.” She said and turned on some song with an amazing bass line, Zack would totally be interested in this. She sang along with it and looked like she was playing the bass line, much like you would with an air guitar.

“So who is this?” I asked. “Bridge to Grace, my brother’s best friend started a band and they just got onto the radio actually, he doesn’t talk to me anymore but I follow the band. He’s the Bassist, my brother was supposed to be the lead guitarist.” She said looked out the window. “Am I asking too much if I ask what exactly happened to your brother.” I said trying not to hit a sensitive subject. She turned and looked at me. “We- I don’t,” She let out a breath. “Starting over.” I nodded.

“My brother and I are twins-were...whatever. Anyways, and well if you thought I drank you should have seen him. One day he found out what my father had been doing to me all those years and he was upset he never stuck up for me or protected me and well he and Christian, his best friend, got some pills one day and drank on top of it well my brother took way too many. Christian had taken him home before he passed out and her came in my room too scared to sleep along in his and he told me what he had done and I stayed up with him but he fell asleep but I tried to wake him up and he wouldn’t wake up. I accidently let my brother die cause I let him know the truth.”

She turned to look at me. “I think that’s why I have a hard time opening up to people but you’re the first person I’ve ever told this too.” Then she let out a nervous laugh and wiped underneath her eyes. “So please don’t die on me.” I reached over and took her hand. “Wasn’t counting on it.” I said giving her a smile. “The reason I don’t talk to Chris anymore is because he showed up to my house just as they were taking my brother and I yelled at him and told him that he was dead because of him, I apologized for it and told him it was no one’s fault but my brother’s but he said he was sorry I had to deal with things on my own and left.”

We listened to more music on Pandora and let it carry off our minds. The silence wasn’t awkward though, it was just silence. I drove and Paige stared out the window. Eventually we pulled into my neighborhood though. “Hey, alright. My apartment is yours too now so feel free to change it how ever you want.” I said pulling in. She nodded and we stepped out of the car. We walked up to the door and I unlocked it and stepped in. “Blink, it’s so cute. I wouldn’t change any of it.” She said walking through. I followed her around as she stepped through each room.

She quickly turned to me and gave me a hug wrapping her arms around my neck. “Thank you, I don’t know what I would have done without you.” I wrapped my arms around her but she pulled away. “What if your friends don’t like me?” I laughed. “They’ll love you, trust me.” She smiled unsurely. “Ok, but you know what we should do.” “What?” I asked as she smiled at me wiggling her eyebrows. “We should invite them over and I’ll cook dinner. You seem like the kind of person who cooks out of a box so you could use a lesson anyways.” I nodded at her. “Sure, they’d like that. And I don’t always cook out of a box.”

She stepped past me giggling. “Oh yeah?” “Yeah, occasionally it comes with it’s own bowl.” She laughed a little too hard letting out a snort. “Wait!” I yelled as she stopped dead in her tracks cover her mouth. “Did you just snort?!” She nodded her face a deep red color. “I was trying to hold it in so long.” She said laughing. I took her hand and pulled her out of the house. “We’re taking your car, cause it’s fantastic.” She rolled her eyes and got in. “You don’t mind if I drive do you?” I asked starting it. “No, of course not. It’s your car too, now.” She said smiling at me. We made it to the store and got stuff to do stir fry for dinner.

Making it back to the house I called everyone: Cass and Rian, Alex, Zack, Matt, and Vinny. The mains. I stepped back into the kitchen. Paige had a kitchen knife and was looking frantically through drawers. “Where’s your sharpening stone, this knifes so dull I wanna kill myself.” She said continuing to look. “The what?” I asked. “It’s a block, sort of like a rock or a really long stick that’s like a circle file.” She said. It clicked and I knew what she was talking about, not that I’ve ever used it. I passed it to her. “Thank you.” She said and ran the knife along the end, I’m assuming sharpening it. She looked so professional. She finished and handed me the knife.

“Alright, cut the chicken into cubes.” She said pushing me in front of the chicken breasts on my granite counter tops. “Umm…” I said looking at the slimy meat and the sharp knife in my hand. “Oh lord.” She said taking the knife from me. She ran the knife along it so fast and cubed it in what felt like a matter of seconds. “Here, dice this bell pepper.” She said handing me it. “Paige, I can’t.” She laughed and took the bell pepper and cut out the middle then tapped out the seeds. She handed me the knife and went behind me. “Alright, hold it like this.” She said helping me hold it. “And cut it in half, then half again, then again then tiny squares.”

She moved to stand next to me, watching me making sure I’m doing it right. “I’m putting the chicken on.” She said and grabbed a pan. I continued to dice, it was actually fun. I finished and turned around and saw Paige flipping the cubes in the air using the side of the pan. “What?!” I said causing her to put the pan down and look at me. “What?” She asked. “That was awesome, I wanna learn how to do that.” I said stepping over to the pan. “Ok, but it’s hard ok?” I nodded and she showed me how. It looked easy but it wasn’t. I couldn’t do it and kept dropping chicken. “5 second rule!” She kept yelling and threw it back in the pan, even though it only landed on the counter.

It would make me laugh though. We eventually got the rice on and the rest of the veggies and sauce ready to go. Then the doorbell rang. I turned to Paige. “You ok?” I asked. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Then people filed into the kitchen and living room area. “Hey guys!” I yelled as Alex ran up to me giving me a hug. “Hey man, I missed you!” He said back. “I was gone for a weekend.” I laughed at Alex’s reaction. “SO!” He yelled back. I gave the rest of my hugs and then Paige stepped forward. “What up? I’m Paige, nice to meet you guys.” She said waving. “You too.” Alex said squinting at her.

“You’re tall.” He said circling her. “She’s not food and you’re not a vulture, Gaskarth.” Zack said making me laugh. “I also have big feet.” She said waving her foot out. “What size?” He asked. “Alex.” I warned. She looked at me. “It’s cool, I can answer his interrogation questions. No laughing, but they’re a size 10 ½.” “Woah.” Alex said stepping back. “Yeah, Also I’m 18. I used to have a twin. I have a couple tattoos and I have my belly button pierced.” She said giving random facts. “Alright, you are indeed cool,” She smiled at me. “BUT! Let’s see if you’re a good cook or not, other wise I’m the champion of that.” Alex said going towards my table.

Paige laughed and walked towards the kitchen. I followed behind and picked up some of the bowls and what not bringing them to the table. I set them down, we had already set the table. Paige sat down, inevitably, next to Alex and me. “So Paige,” Rian said. She looked up at him and so did I. “You just graduated high school.” “Rian, for real?” I asked. He raised his hands showing me he would back off. “Yeah, yeah I did. And good things I let Bli-Jack stay with me or else no one would have come to my graduation.”

“Wait, your parents didn’t go?” Rian asked. “Nah, they don’t like me.” She said looking down at her plate. “You don’t have to say anymore.” I said leaning over to her. She nodded. “Sorry.” “It’s ok.” She said back to Rian. “This is delicious.” Cass said. Paige’s and my smile lit up. “Thanks but Jack did a lot.” She said. I laughed and they all looked at me. “Don’t believe a word that comes out of her mouth, she lies. I diced a pepper, cut the broccoli and helped… What’s that word?” I asked. “Saute.” “Yeah, helped saute the chicken. That’s it.”

“Well it’s awesome.” Cass continued. “So what do you think Alex?” I asked raising an eyebrow at him. “Its mmmm.” He mumbled. “I’m sorry what?” “It’s amazing.” He said louder, she smiled over at him. “Thanks.” We finished the rest of dinner cutting up and joking around. Then Paige went up stairs to take a shower while I cleaned up the kitchen. “So, how long is she staying?” Zack asked walking into the kitchen. “How ever long she wants. I sort of asked her to move in, really more like forced.” “So you kidnapped her?” He asked.

“No,” I said looking at him. “Her family is a bunch of assholes and she’s had a rough life and I offered an escape and she took it.” I said. He nodded understanding. I finished and walked back into the living room as Paige came back down stairs. She had on a large t-shirt with some tiny short shorts. She walked into the living room. “Nice to meet you guys, but I’m gonna go to bed. Night. Night Blink, see you tomorrow, thank you again.” “No problem.” I said and pulled her into a hug. I let go and she kissed my cheek and went up stairs. “What was with the bruises Jack?” Alex asked in a whisper.

I sat down on the ottoman and could see all of them were interested in the story. “Well, we went to a function yesterday and she was pulled away from me by her ex, but I didn’t know that at the time, and when she returned he had...like...you know.” All their faces went wide with shock. “I didn’t know where to find her, I did look and then her father is a jerk and has done it to her too and they’re making her change her name cause they want nothing to do with her and there were little douche bags in her neighborhood and she almost beat her up at her graduation.” Then I laughed.

“What’s funny about this, Jack?” Zack asked being completely serious. “Grace has a younger brother he was in the same grade as Paige, he was part of the click that made fun of her and hit her. And Grace knew about it.” I looked at them. “Her brother’s dead too. Whether he killed himself or it was an accident I’m not sure, I need to ask her. She’s been through hell and I feel like I can help.” “We’ll help too.” Alex said. The others nodded. “Thanks guys, she’s really mature by the way. She’s lived completely by herself since she was like 11 and she can hold her alcohol. She’s such an amazing person.” I finished looking at them.

“We can tell, Jack. We’ll see you soon alright.” Cass said standing up and giving me a hug. “We leave for tour soon too, so you might wanna think about that.” I nodded into Zack’s hug seeing as he was the second to last to leave. “Dude, I’m so sorry. I owe her an apology too. She’s a beautiful young girl and strong. I’ll make it up to her.” Alex said. “Yeah… see ya around.” I said as he let the house. I closed and locked the door and headed up stairs. I walked into my room and Paige was laying on the bed. “It’s a new place and I, not that I’m admitting anything, but get sort of creeped out in new spaces….” She trailed off. I nodded and pulled off my shirt and pants. “You can stay.” I said crawling in. She reached over and hugged me. “Thank you, Blink. You’re amazing.” She said. “No, you’re amazing. Good night, go to sleep.” I said turning off the light and pulling her body into mine to keep warm, she didn’t seem to mind.

Notes

comment...I wanna update again but wanna know what you think... :P

Outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/chapter/set?id=113092012