These Bright Lights Have Always Blinded Me

“Reid you don’t have to go I know you had a show tonight,” I said as he was sitting on my bed.

“Really now?” he said laughing, “When will the next time I see you be then?” he asked walking over to the bathroom doorway where I was.

“Weeks?” I said putting down the straightner that was in my hand.

“Months?” he said hugging me.

“At the worst years,” I said pulling back.

“So see its fine if I miss one show.” he laughed.

“If you say so, I would rather you go to the show and see me afterwards,” I said going back to straightening my hair.

“If I could see you afterwards,” he said emphasizing the ‘if’.

“I know,” I said knowing that he wouldn’t remember.

“Listen I will just go with you and everybody its fine don’t worry about it.”

“But,” I began before he cut me off.

“End of discussion,” he smiled, “I am going and nothing you can say will stop me.”

“No you have a show to be at, go!” I said pointing the straightener at him.

“Think what you will,” he said walking out of my room, with a smile on his face.

“Reid you aren’t going!” I said laughing, setting the straightener on the sink and running out my bed room door.

“Just you wait,” he laughed and then the front door slammed.

I went back to the bathroom and grabbed my straightener, “OW!” I screamed throughout the house, “Craigie!” I yelled sticking my now burnt fingers in my mouth.

“What?!” he said gasping for air.

“Are you okay?” Max said running in right behind Craig then following Monte and Robert.

“My fingers hurt,” I mumbled not taking my fingers out of my mouth.

“What?” Craig said trying to take my hand away from my mouth before I jerked my head.

“They hurt!” I tried screaming through my hand.

“Well what did you do dumbass?” Robert said laughing at me.

I turned my head to the straightener and Max busted out laughing at me.

“Shut up!” I mumbled.

“You are truly a dumbass,” he said wrapping an arm around me.

“I am not!” I screamed after taking my fingers out of my mouth.

“Yeah you are,” Robert said laughing along with Max.

“You guys are mean,” I said hanging my head.

“But you are my dumbass,” Craig said lifting my face up.

“Oh well that makes things better,” I said sarcastically.

“It should because guess what?” he said getting close to my face.

“What?” I whispered.

“I love you!” he screamed ripping me from under Max and Roberts arms and throwing me on the bed.

“I think this is the time we leave,” I heard Monte say along with footsteps then a door shutting.

“Stop. I’m. Ticklish,” I said gasping for air as he was tickling my sides and kissing my neck.

“Say the magic words,” he said removing his lips from my neck.

“I. Can’t.” I said laughing.

“You can to,” he said smiling and then my sides began to hurt.

“Ow. You’re. Hurting. Me,” I said still laughing.

“Say it,” he said not stopping.

“No,” I laughed.

“I will strip you naked if you don’t say it,” he said stopping and straddling my hips.

“I’m not saying it,” I said after catching my breath.

“Well I guess you’re going to be naked,” he said reaching for the bottom of my shirt.

“You wouldn’t dare,” I said leaning up as much as I could.

“Oh I wouldn’t, Would I?” he said undoing each button on my shirt.

“No you wouldn’t,” I said moving his hands away.

“Yeah I would,” He said before taking the two ends of my shirt and ripping the buttons off.

I looked up at him with my jaw dropped as I heard the buttons hit the floor, “You are fixing my shirt mister,” I said.

“The buttons are my last concern on the list,” he said smiling.

“What’s the first?” I said trying to scoot out from under him.

“Well see I have this problem,” he said holding my down.

“What would that be?” I said laughing as I could already feel his ‘problem’.

“Well, I have this amazing girlfriend I want to bang her right now but her pant are kind of in the way.”

“That’s your fault I’m kind of trapped under you,” I said as he leaned down to kiss me.

I heard the door swing open and Reid walked in, “Hey I forgot my keys,” he said reaching in my pants pocket and grabbing them.

“Bye Reid, I love you!” I screamed as he ran down the stairs.

“Well my problem doesn’t even matter now,” Craig said getting off of me.

“What the hell?” I said rolling over to see him walking out the door.

“Nothing,” he said turning to me.

I jumped off the bed and ran over to him grabbing him by his front belt loops, “Come lay with me,” I said pouting at him.

“Why don’t you have Reid lay with you?” he said setting his forehead against mine.

“Because I want to feel your skin by mine, and your arms around me.”

“Why not Reid?’ he said in a weird voice.

“Because I like you and not him,” I said pulling him back toward the bed.

“What do you like about me?” he questioned as I sat down on the bed pulling him on top of me.

“Everything,” I said kissing his neck.

“Seriously, we have to go to a concert in two hours and you two are about to have sex?” Max said standing in the doorway.

“Well yeah,” Craig said smiling, “when you want to you got to,” he said looking at me and kissing me.

“Well come on we are leaving in twenty minutes,” Max said still standing there.

“Fine,” I said pushing Craig off of me and I got up from the bed.

“Nice boobs,” Max said before walking away.

“No they are not!” I said jumping up and down and whining.

“Keep jumping,” Craig said smiling.

“Pervert,” I said covering myself and walking over to find another shirt.

“Oh come on it’s not like I’m over here masturbating with you right here.”

“I know I just like making you feel bad,” I said laughing and walking out the door to the living room.

“Leila, should be in bed by eight and we will be home by midnight at the latest,” Monte said to the babysitter Kim.

“Okay anything else?” she asked as Leila came running up to me.

“Mommy!” she screamed clinging to my leg.

“Leila!” I said picking her up and kissing her forehead.

“I will miss you mommy,” Leila said yawning and rubbing her eyes.

“You can sleep in mommy and daddy’s bed tonight if you want,” I said handing her to Kim.

“I will mommy. I love you,” she said kissing my cheek.

“I love you, too!” I said as the began to drag me out the door.

**several hours later**

“Thank you! You have been a wonderful audience and good night,” Josh Ramsay said and I went crazy.

“Reid! It was amazing wasn’t it?” I said holding him by his shoulders and shaking him

“It’s not my type of music though,” he said smiling.

“Thank you for coming with me,” I said kissing his cheek.

“You’re welcome,” he said laughing, “I’m going to have a cigarette talk to your boyfriend,” he said kissing my forehead and walking away.

“Craig!” I said running and jumping in his arms, “I love you for this!” I said kissing him.

“There is more,” he said smiling.

“How could there be more?” I said laughing.

“Ali, I know how you feel,” he said setting me down and reaching in his pocket, “About this subject but promise me you will one day for me?” he said getting down on one knee and then I couldn’t breathe, talk or move.

“Hey, Ali I need a lighter,” Reid said coming up and reaching for one in my pocket, “Holy shit! Look at that ring. Who is it for?” Reid said kissing my cheek

“Me,” I slowly said while shaking my head in shock.

“Oh shit I will leave now,” Reid said running off.

“So will you?” he said taking my hand.

I couldn’t find words to say I was silent.

“Ali?” he said waving a hand in front of me.

“Y-ye-yes,” I finally got out and he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me.

“And I just got the signal from Mr. Maxwell Green. Hit it guys,” I heard Josh say.
I heard the guitar for a song start, “All the times i tried to steal my best for you
and i threw it up to keep it down
and watch it burn i hate the sound
i...i know just how you feel
cause i don't know how it ever got away

cause i still feel all the things i did before
when you used to need it more
remember all the ways you fixed me..how you fixed me now
yea. and if your ever feeling sure
bruised and battered on the floor
and i wont tell no one
just breathe. breathe

who are you now?

and i'd work it out if that would make you feel it more,
and i know you hate to watch me pout
and tear it off and scream and shout
and i know that even though your breaking
you'll get sick and terrified.”

“I love you,” Craig whispered in my ear as I looked down at my ring and then up at him.

“I love you, too,” I said as I began to cry.

“Remember all the ways you fixed your self
you fixed us now
and if your ever feeling your
bruised and battered on your floor
i won't tell no one
just breathe. Breathe,”The song finished and Josh looked over at me and Craig.

“She said yes!” Craig yelled down at the guys.

“She said yes?” The band asked.

“I said Yes!” I screamed as loud as I could.

“I’m happy,” Craig said smiling.

“Me too,” I said turning to him, “You even had them play my favorite song,” I said as he pulled me into a hug.