We went back to Jack's to get ready for the club. Of course Jack wanted to go in early and check that everything was set for the party so we ended up in an empty bar with the music playing, waiting for the first guests to arrive.
We just sat around talking and sipping on our drinks because it was still early and we didn't want to get too drunk too quickly and soon enough people started to arrive.
In the beginning we bothered with introductions, greetings and small talk with everyone as the circle slowly grew. May arrived and told me she was happy Alex decided to show up. "I would have hated to cut off his balls for hurting my baby brother on his birthday. So I'm glad everything seems okay between them."
I nod in agreement, looking over to them as Jack had his arm thrown around Alex shoulders and the shorter male holding him by the waist, both with big smiles talking animatedly to a group of crew members. As the club got fuller and fuller we lost track of who arrived and gave up greeting everyone but started to party and have a good time.

My girl friends Monica, Jen and Trisha would be meeting my boyfriend for the first time tonight. They arrive together and soon we spot each other in the crowd, I wave at them and eagerly make my way over, weaving through the people.
"Well, I thought you had fallen off the face of the earth, Michelle!" Is the greeting I get from Monica together with a perfectly styled raised brow. I just shrug my shoulders.
I was aware we hadn't talked in weeks but there was a lot happening in my life, okay?
"So where is this rock star of yours?" She continues while looking around curiously for my boyfriend.
I search for Jack in the club and beckon him over to join us once I catch his eye. He struts towards us with the widest grin and slings an arm around me, "Well hello there ladies," he slurs. I look at him surprised he wasn't drunk when I last saw him a few minutes ago. He winks back and I fear he is going to do something stupid.
I had told him what the girls think about him and I fear it's time for payback. He takes Monica's hand and pretends to kiss it while staring into her eyes. She looks a bit flustered but catches herself quickly, "well you must be Jack, thank you so much for the invite and Happy Birthday." She tries.
"Ah thank you, and you must be Monica, Mickey has told me so much about you," Jack flirts ridiculously, " only good things of course. And she also told me you disapprove of us dating because 'band guys can't keep it in their pants' if I may quote your words. And you are right, I was like that but I promise you, Mickey here, " with that he pulls me forward with a stupid grin on his face, " Mickey has made me a better man. My therapist says so too and my fellow members from sex addicts anonymous are really proud of me for staying celibate for so long." I roll my eyes at him but Monica doesn't get the irony and her jaw falls open and I fear she'll have a seizure any moment now.
"But excuse me ladies I have to go jerk off in the toilets now to keep my sex drive at bay, see you later," he cheers and saunters off.
I pull him back by his shirt and whisper angrily into his ear, "Jack Barakat you are full of bullshit, and I hate you," before I push him away but he only snorts at his own joke. Luckily Alex has noticed my despair and rushes to my aid.

"Hey Mickey, are these your girlfriends?," he quickly takes over the conversation, "Hi, im Alex, Jack's best friend, please excuse his behaviour, I guess he had too much to drink already but it's his birthday after all. Can I show you lovely ladies to the bar and get you some drinks? Maybe introduce you to some other people? What do you say?". He beams at them and is as charming as it gets and it seems to work as, when he turns to lead the way, Monica whispers beside me, "why don't you date him? He's gorgeous!"
I huff annoyed, "he's married." I counter.
She sighs sadly, "of course he is, all the good ones are." I look at her surprised to hear this statement seeing as she always claims to live in the perfect relationship but she ignores my stare completely and follows Alex with a dreamy smile on her lips, Jen and Trisha hot on her heels wearing a similar expression. I shake my head and go find someone else to talk to.

A lot of band guys have arrived by now, Tyler Szalkowski from State Champs, Mickey Way, Brian Dales from the Summer Set, Luke Hemings from 5SOS, Mitchy Collins from Oh Honey, Pat Kirch from The Maine, and other friends from the media like Jensen Karp or former band affiliates like Matt Flyzik and even sport celebrities like Justin Tucker.
Jack has a very diverse range of friends and it is a common misconception that bands touring together always also become best friends, it's like in real life where you don't necessarily befriend people just because you work with them.

Anyway, I'm having a good time on the dance floor rocking out with the girls when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I hold up my finger to signal I'm gonna be back in a second and walk to the edge of the crowd to look at the text I got.

From Jack:
Meet me in the storage area. X

I shake my head confused and realise I haven't seen him nor Alex for a while now. Maybe there is some issue that they have to take care of?
I make my way through the mass of bodies to the rooms behind the bar and DJ booth to find my boyfriend.
When I enter the hallway it is dark apart from the exit lights over the doors, I walk further looking around, "Jack? Where are you?" I stage whisper into the shadows.
Suddenly a door I just passed opens and I'm being pulled into a small room by strong hands, I can just about make out two figures before the door falls shut and I'm engulfed in complete darkness.
My heart pounds in shock and there is a moment of silence but then the two burst out into giggles of giddiness. I groan, "really guys? What are you, like, twelve?"
They chuckle some more and I pat around in the darkness and realise they stand very close to me in a very small space. Two sets of arms hug me and Jack whispers, "we're in the closet," that has them in a giggle fit again, I guess they had a lot to drink already.
It feels nice though, the blasting music from outside is muffled, the darkness soothes the eyes from the strobe lights and I cuddle into warm skin covered with soft shirts and flannels. I close my eyes for a moment and just lean into the strong arms holding me.
"And what is this all about?" I ask.
Alex chuckles and his sweet voice sounds close to my ear, "we're playing seven minutes in heaven."
I can't help but shake my head at their craziness, "okay, it's confirmed, you are actually twelve."
"Ah, but darling, this is the adult version with three people!" He replies smoothly.
Jack moans, "Damn we should have played it like that back in high school," then he plants his lips on mine.

It quickly gets steamy in the little room and we knock off about everything that is not nailed to the wall in the process but we have a lot of fun and once we emerge from the confined space after way longer than seven minutes we all have messed up hair and reddened cheeks and swollen lips from our little encounter but our eyes are shining with happiness. I quickly kiss them goodbye and make my way back alone thinking that if somebody noticed our absence it would look suspicious if we were to return all at once.
I have only taken a few steps into the club when I run into Lisa. She stands there talking to Cassadee but her eyes scan the room, searching for Alex I suppose. I try and avoid them but Cass has seen me and waves me over, I take a deep breath and paste a smile on my face.
"Hey, Cass, lovely to see you, and Lisa, you too." I greet awkwardly.
"Mickey, Lisa is looking for Alex, they were supposed to meet here, have you seen him by any chance?" Cass asks me innocently while Lisa just stares at me, I have no idea why but then I remember my disheveled look and hastily try to comb down my hair with my fingers.
"Uh, Uhm, no, sorry, he is here but I haven't seen him for a while actually." I lie but I feel it is written on my face.

I'm about to turn away when I see Alex walk towards us out of nowhere when I pass him he quickly whispers, "Don't worry, it's all good, I call you guys tomorrow." And gives my arm a light squeeze and then he is gone. I continue to walk away and don't turn around because I don't want to see how his whole demeanour changes like it always happens when he is with her.

Notes

In celebration of the album release here is another chapter, enjoy!
how are you guys liking the new music? What's your favourite song?
I personally think they pre released the five best songs but atm I'm beginning to like Nightmares a lot, too.