Listen To Your Heart

"You know the only reason you're driving my car is because if I were right now, we'd crash?" Mandy yawned, rubbing her eyes as she buckled her seatbelt. She rested her head against the window, just enjoying the drive. "I'd hate to answer to the throng of teenage girls who're gonna be throwing themselves at you on the road." Mandy joked.

--

Alex frowned slightly before standing up, offering his arm to Leighton so he could help her do the same. "Let me walk you out, then." He spoke with a grin, giving his remaining house guests the one second gesture before leading Leighton out the front door. He closed it behind him beofre turning to face her. "I had a great time today, and I'm glad you did, too."

"Yea yea." Zack rolled his eyes at Mandy as he drove the familiar path back to their home. He smiled as she went on, shaking his head in laughter. "I don't know, can't say that sounds like a bad idea." Zack continued, his voice light

---

Leighton smiled to herself when she noticed his frown, taking his arm to stand and following him out the door. She leaned back against the side of his home as she looked up at Alex, a smile on her face. She nodded, agreeing to his comment. " Thank you for inviting me. You've got some great friends here." She bit down on the inside of her lip, as she often did when she was nervous.

"Your throng of adoring fans would have my head on a stick if I crashed, you broke your leg or something and you couldn't be on tour." Mandy laughed before yawning, resting her head on Zack's shoulder as they headed back toward home.

--

"Yeah, they're pretty okay." Alex laughed, running a hand through his hair as he tried to think of something to say. "Text me when you get home so I know you made it okay? I'm probably gonna kick the rest of those nerds out soon so I can get some sleep. Lots of last minute tour stuff to do... And a date with a pretty lady to plan for Tuesday."

my memory is the worst you know this

"You got a point there. " Zack chuckled, pulling into their driveway. "Come on sleepy head, let's get your pretty little ass inside." He stated, taking the keys out of the ignition befire going over to the opposite side of the ceaser to open the door for Mandy.

---

Leighton smiled, nodding as she lifted herself off the side of the house. "I will. And I'll see you Tuesday, Alex." She spoke with a smile, her accent coming out greedy as she turned to walk down the driveway. Looking back at Alex for a moment she smiled, biting down on her bottom lip before turning bavk to the road and heading towards home.

"Hey! My ass is NOT little. It's pretty nice, if I do say so myself." Mandy rolled her eyes as she hopped out of the truck, leading the way up the driveway. She leaned against the wall while she waited for Zack to catch up, seeing as he had her keys.

--

Alex waited outside until he saw Leighton turn the corner and disappear from view, the grin not leaving his face. He headed back inside and joined Jack, Rian, and Cass back on the couch. They were all raving about how wonderful Leighton was, and that made Alex happy beyond belief.

"Your ass is VERY nice." Zack chuckled, closing the passenger door behind Mandy as she darted up towards the front door. He locked then car the followed her footsteps towards the door, unlocking it swiftly and swinging the door open for Mandy to pass through.

---

Leighton quickly walked back to her own home, smiling to herself as she walked through her own door and collapsed on the couch. Pulling her phone out of her back pocket she pulled up Alex's contact information and sent him a quick text, letting him know she made it home safely.

"You flatter me, babe." Mandy spoke, yawning as she headed into the house. She kicked off her shoes and put them on the little mat by the door before heading to the kitchen in search of a water or something else to drink before bed.

---

Alex smiled at the text from Leighton. Good, I'm glad. Have a good night. Thanks for coming over again... made my day even better :) When he looked from his phone, the rest of the group told him that they would be heading out for the night.

Looking forward to Tuesday: ) Leighton smiled as she kicked her shoes off, laying back on the couch. She was exhausted and all she wanted to do was sleep, however she had put off her word from earlier to hang out with Alex and she knew she needed to finish it.

---

"I try" Zack smiled, kicking hos shoes off and locking the door behind him. "You up for chilling down here or are you ready for bed?" He questioned, following her to the kitchen in her quest to find a drink before she passed out.

“I can hang out down here for a little bit,” Mandy spoke, grabbing a bottle of water for herself. She handed one to Zack as well before heading back into the living room and flopping down on the couch. “But you’re responsible for carrying me upstairs, mister.”

—

Me, too. Meet me at the coffee shop at about six thirtyish? I think I know the perfect restaurant to take you to. Alex sent the text message before heading upstairs to throw on a pair of pajama bottoms and a t shirt. Perhaps he’d watch a movie or something before he fell asleep.

"Fair enough." Zack smiled, accepting the water as he sat next to her. "What're you feeling today? I'm in a Chopped mood." He stated, flipping through the channels as he attempted to find a show to appease them both.

---

It's a date. Leighton smiled, grabbing her laptop and a soda from the fridge before settling down on the couch to finish writing her paper. Wanting background noise she quickly flipped her tv to FOOD network, turning the volume down to a whisper as the computer powered on.

"Chopped works for me," Mandy yawned, moving so her legs were resting in Zack's lap. She took a sip from her own water and rested her head against the back of the couch, throwing the blanket that rested there over her legs.

--

I can't wait to see you. <3 Alex put his phone on his bedside table as he climbed under the blankets and turned on his tv. He fired up Netflix and scrolled through all of the choices, trying to land on something to watch.

Leighton smiled as the text flashed across her screen, choosing to leave it at that instead of replying again. Her fingers darted across the keys, finishing out the remainder of the court document, sending the file on to her lawyer. Looking at the time she yawned, ready for bed.

---

Zack rested his arm over Mandys legs as the two watched the show, his eyes darting towards her every once in a while. He could see how tired she was, so as the show ended he turned off the tv. "Come on sleepy head, let's go to bed."

Mandy held out her arms, pouting up at Zack as she did so. "Pleeease carry me upstairs?" She stood up on her knees, slinging her arms around Zack's neck and hugging him tight.

--

Once Alex threw on Friends (for nothing more than background noise), he curled up under the blankets and plugged his phone in to charge. The time was going to drag on until Tuesday-- he didn't think he would be able to stand it.

Zack chuckled, rolling his eyes slightly before swinging her body into his arms. He cradled her, much like a bride entering the threshold for the first time."Alright alright ya big baby. Let's go to bed."

Mandy rolled her eyes as she jumped down from Zack's arms. "You're always so rude to me, you big dork." She teased, grabbing one of Zack's old workout shirts from her pajama drawer. The young twentysomething stripped down and threw the t shirt on before tossing her day clothes into the dirty clothes pile.