It was always you
Falling for me
Now there's always time
Calling for me
I'm the light blinking at the end of the road
Blink back to let me know

By now I think it’s pretty obvious that I love the touring life. Meeting people, seeing places, doing things I never thought I would in a million years...yeah. It’s pretty epic.

But one not-so-epic aspect of touring that I very much could do without is the whole traveling-slash-sleeping on a bus thing. I mean, I understood the necessity of the monstrous beast and would hands down take that over some of the poor acts that had to ride in vans, but still. Did that mean I enjoyed being on a bus for three months straight?

No.

No I did not.

Granted, living on the bus with the guys from All Time Low wasn’t the worst thing in the world. I got to be with Jack, after all...though as I mentioned previously, our sleeping arrangements (i.e. sharing a bunk) was far from ideal. Let’s just say falling onto the floor in the middle of the night after a long day of talking with fans, doing interviews and playing an hour set was not the way I wanted to cap off my evening.

So when the opportunity arose about half way through Warped to book a hotel room thanks to two whole days off in Chicago, I practically drooled at the chance. I barely had to say one word before Jack decided to deter a bit from our usual set up and booked the two of us a room at the Four Seasons. He went all out too, picking a room with a enchantingly beautiful lakeside view that couldn’tve been cheap. I think he felt a bit bad about our previous sleeping arrangement, which I later pointed out had been purely because of me thanks to my need to be next to him whenever possible after the occasional lingering nightmare. Thus, we shared a bunk. I had assured him that it wasn’t that bad, that I only had one bruise from all those (mostly) sleep filled nights, but he wouldn’t back down on his treat for me, brushing off my worry over the price with a simple, “Hey, don’t worry. I’ve got some money to spoil my girl with.”

I shut up after that. I ended up grabbing the smallest of my travel bags and stuffed a change of clothes and basic overnight necessities. Toothbrush, hairbrush, those sort of things. As I packed, I noticed the bus was empty; something that hardly ever happened unless both Midnight and All Time Low were out performing or otherwise busy. I shrugged this off, figuring my friends and bandmates were probably out exploring the city of Chicago, visiting museums and generally causing ruckus and stuff.

You know, the norm.

I followed Jack back up to the room, only taking in the breathtaking view of the lake below for about three seconds before my eyes darted over towards the gloriously welcoming king-sized bed. “Oh, now this is what I needed...” I practically moaned as I not-so-gracefully fell head first onto the soft mattress.

Jack laughed at me, watching from a distance as my body bounced lightly on the springs. “So you’re saying all you really wanted was any old room with a bed?”

I swallowed, feeling bad that I knew this exactly to be the case, but I still tried to deny it. “I wanna say...no?”

“Sure...” He chuckled, not looking the least bit upset as I snuggled deeper into the cloud-like comforter.

“Wanna join me?” I raised a brow as I moved over to the right side of the bed. “It’s really comfy.”

He smirked. “Is that so?”

I nodded, rolling over so my view of him was now upside down as I added dramatically, “It’s so comfy I could fall asleep for days.”

“Well don’t fall asleep for too long...Alex and the rest of the guys were hoping we’d meet up with them for dinner and maybe a movie after--”

I frowned, rolling back over so I could meet his eyes. “Don’t spoil the moment. We have two. Days. Off.” I said each word carefully so it could sink in how important and rare that was for us during touring season. We were lucky if we got one day off in a row, let alone two. Jack should be appreciative of this more than anyone. “Now seriously, are you gonna join me or what?”

He nodded, finally joining me on the bed as he crawled on the open side, readjusting until finally, we were face to face, lying on the heavenly mattress. I watched as he let his body sink into the blanketed paradise, shutting his eyes for a second or two in pleasant peace. I waited a beat before I asked him, “What do you think?”

“Fuck, you weren’t kidding about this being amazing...” He groaned, his limp limbs floating carelessly by his side. “Scratch those plans with ‘lex. We’re totally ditching them and staying here forever, ‘kay Sally?”

I laughed at Jack’s sudden change in mood. “Sounds perfect, babe.”

And though we did end up staying on that bed, in that beautiful room for a good two hours, we didn’t end up ditching Alex and the guys, as much as I’d genuinely wanted to. Instead, we joined our friends out for a night on the town, having a drink or two. Or three.

Okay fine. I had five. But I was enjoying my days off and damn, did I have fun.

Needless to say, by the time we got back to the hotel room at God-knows what hour, I was out for the count, barely feeling my face hit the pillows before I was out like a light.

~*~

“...Sally...” I could faintly hear Jack’s voice call out softly. “Sally...” he repeated again, cutting my once sound slumber short as I reluctantly opened my eyes, grimacing as I took in the bright sun shamelessly shining through the hotel window.

“What?” I squinted up at him in an unpleasant, semi-grumpy tone, feeling that familiar thumping of a steady headache growing just underneath my temple.

“How’re you feeling?” He asked, eyes cheery and bright as the very sun I was trying to hide from by cowering under the sheets.

“Ugh...” I groaned against the sheets, wishing for anything to take back that last shot I’d downed the night before. Why did I have to be such a pushover and do that shot with Rian? Everyone knew I was a lightweight, even after hanging with the guys of ATL, who basically took it upon themselves to drink to celebrate any little thing possible. It didn’t help that I’d stopped drinking for the latter half of the year because of meds and stuff, so now the alcohol was apparently hitting me hard...

“That good, huh?” Jack chuckled, inching his fingers around the sheets before pulling them down below my face, making it clear he wasn’t going to back down and let me cower in the darkness while I nursed my lingering hangover.

“Jack, come on.” I went to grab the sheet, but Jack pulled them even further out of my reach, making my once warm nest suddenly chilly with crisp, air conditioned air. “I went out last night like you wanted, now please, let me sleep just a little more--”

“Sorry, babe, but you need to get up.” Jack responded, apology present in his tone.

I glared up at him stubbornly. “Why?”

“Because I’ve got a surprise for you.” He replied simply, a sly, knowing smile plastered on his face.

I blinked at him. A surprise?

...did he know me?

“Oh, well in that case...” I began, before rolling over, turning my back towards my boyfriend in hopes he’d get the hint and leave me alone in my hungover state.

But of course, Jack being Jack, he didn’t let up.

“Nuh-uh.” I felt his long, thin fingers grab my shoulder and pull me back towards him. “Come on, Sally...you’ll love it, I promise.” After he said this, he dared to dip his chin and widen his already mesmerizing eyes in a look not unlike Puss in Boots.

And did I mention he was wearing his glasses? I don’t know what it was about the simple black frames that he wore on occasion, but when he did...

...let’s just say there’s a reason I secretly called them Jack’s ‘fuck me’ glasses...

I took a deep breath, finding it harder and harder not to just get up and do what he wanted me to. Especially with those stupid ass doe eyes of his.

Dammit.

“God, fine!” I grumbled, throwing the sheets from my body as I sprang up to face my triumphant looking boyfriend, stupid grin and all. “I’m up!” I paused for a second, rubbing my eyes as I rid them of sleep. I then glanced over at the clock, which read that it was nearly noon. This made me temporarily forget my lingering hangover, as I genuinely hadn’t expected it to already be that late in the day. “It’s already noon?” I asked Jack, combing my hair half-hazardly with my fingers in hopes of making it a little less slept in.

“Part of the reason why I needed you to get your sexy butt out of bed, yes.” Jack bobbed his head patiently despite clearly being on some sort of secret schedule. “Now if you’d just get that sexy butt over to the shower, we can really get started on my surprise....”

I glanced at Jack, carefully rising from my spot on the bed as I couldn’t help but ask, “...this surprise of yours doesn’t involve shower sex, does it?”

Jack’s eyes widened, offended. “Sally, come on. I can come up with something a bit better than that...” He paused, the very idea of me bringing such an activity up already sending all sorts of naughty ideas to his head, I was sure. He gulped hard, glancing down at the bra and panties I’d slept in before lowering his voice. “Unless you wanted that to be a part of your surprise...?”

Normally, it’d be a simple ‘no’. To me, showers and sex don’t really mix. Taking an already rigorous and repetitive activity as making love and adding slippery water and porcelain just never seemed like a smart idea.

But then Jack just had to go and wake me up with those stupid sexy glasses of his.

Like I could say no to that.

“It, uh...” I bit my lip, glancing up at my boyfriend in the most seductive way I could manage, my hormones taking over before I could hold back. After all, it had been way too long since we had a moment alone like this, uninterrupted. “It would certainly be a great way to start this little surprise of yours....” I paused, taking two daring steps to Jack so we were now mere inches apart. “...don’t you think?”

I didn’t have to say another word.

Notes

Part one!!! Part two is on it's way :) Opening lyrics are from "Always" by Panic! at the Disco. Enjoy and vote if you haven't already. And drop a comment if you'd like. I really really really love reading those :)