Serenading Sirens

An end, and it was final this time. The weeks dragged on as school continued. But the dragging was worth it when I was with Jack every moment we could spare in between classes. I made and kept a promise to myself to make sure that Alex and I couldn't be alone together, to make our feelings disappear with lack of intimate relationship. For the most part, it worked.

There were few times that I still found myself longing for Alex's touch. For him to be the one finger tipping up my arms, leaving goosebumps in his wake. That it was him kissing my hair before I fell asleep on the couch Friday nights to a movie. Most of the time, I was more than ecstatic that Jack was the one there with me. That he was overjoyed to watch movies with me even when I was too tired. That he made me feel the way I did.

Spring rolled around, and the air warmed to fit my mood. It felt as if I were with the boys more than I had ever been. The weekends that didn't start off with a movie with Jack were spent in the back of the van with him, as we traveled to other cities, other states. The shows were bigger, more enthusiastic. They were almost in full touring mode now that they were with Hopeless, and preparing for a full tour by the time summer hit.

I tried not to think about why I was really with them. I knew that I couldn't spend all summer stuck in cities where everyone was a stranger. I couldn't waste it away in the van or in makeshift dressing rooms. I would have to be away from Jack for all those months, awaiting his return in Maryland. Or not. There was more than likely a more immense separation that awaited us in the future. There was no way for me to be sure yet, so I wasn't going to spend the time away from him now when it was so easily accessible. And I certainly wasn't going to complain at the fact that I was able to be with him.

My parents also didn't gripe at this either. For some reason -unbeknownst to me- they preferred Jack over Alex like they favored cats over dogs. This made no sense to me. They had hardly ever spent time with Jack, only having really talked to him when I wasn't speaking to anyone. I, by no means, thought that it was fair. But if they weren't yelling at me for being with five boys and out of town all the time, then they were just happy I wasn't breaking down, and I was quite all right with that.

Life seemed to be back on track. I was able to keep my focus on several different things. My grades made their way back up from the slump they had taken since I had realized I loved two boys. I was making friends with people I didn't have to meet through my current friends. And of course, I had my ever present Jack.

I hadn't come full circle. There was never a circle to complete. There was straight line, a path that led me forward. I had no intention of straying from this path.

________________________________________________

The sun warmed my skin as it shined through the window, making it too bright behind my eyelids. My hands slid along the bed to find a pillow and I pulled when I thought I had grabbed mine. The need to get back to sleep was put on hold by the grunt my action caused. My eyelids popped open to see the source of the noise, though I already knew. Once the previous night was able to break through my sleepy stupor, I remembered I wasn't even in my own room.

The background to what I stared at was not the boring white of my walls. They were bright and vibrant, the color of a perfect pumpkin. The boy next to me still had his eyes closed, but he was clearly awake and upset that I had been the one to wake him by taking his pillow. And that was so obviously just an act because the moment I pressed my lips to his, he wrapped his arms around me eagerly.

"Morning," I smiled once he gave me enough room to do so.

Jack grinned right back, kissing the tip of my nose in greeting instead of replying vocally.

He let go of me, but I kept myself close, using his arm as a pillow. I let out a yawn and stretched out my limbs. Everything was stiff, used to being bent in odd positions in the van all weekend. We hadn't gotten back until early this morning, and my eyes didn't want to open to drive myself home. Jack managed to get me to his room where I crashed and therefore put myself in the position to skip school. Maybe this would get my parents to take a point from their great perception of Jack. They'd probably find a way to blame it all on Alex.

I heaved a sigh, turning to face Jack and burying my face in his chest. He let out a low chuckle, taking my actions as nothing more than wanting to go back to sleep. But I was wide awake now with my mind running over everything that had happened to me so far this year. How weird that everything had changed so dramatically, yet I had no aversion to it anymore. I snuggled closer to Jack to keep my words true to my reflections.

He stroked my hair as we lay there, trying to put off getting up as long as possible. The house was empty of other occupants, his older sister and brother at classes, his parents at work. It was nice to finally be alone, just the two of us. Over the weekend, there was always someone there. Rian to demand that I spray perfume throughout the van, or Zack to push me out of the way to get to his weights. And the past few weeks, my parents were always around the house to insist that it would be a great idea if they sat down with us to watch movies. I was in the process of burning all of my movies so that couldn't happen anymore. So this was the first time Jack and I had been really alone since we had gotten together.

I reveled in this. I threw my arms around him and lifted my head to kiss him enthusiastically. Why this was this best news to me, I would never truly be able to explain. But it felt great to be able to kiss him with no watching eyes, to not have to think about if Alex was going to walk through the door at any minute so I would have to pull away, fully blushing. That no one was going to intrude on our moment.

Jack was chuckling again, against my lips. He broke my hold on him ever so slightly, keeping his face only centimeters away from mine. "You're so excited to kiss me this morning," he pointed out.

I already knew this. I didn't need anymore telling. I felt action was in order. "We're alone," I hinted, and pinned myself to him marginally. I wasn't sure what I actually wanted to happen while we were here, already comfortable in his bed. He'd have to decide that for me.

Jack held me as close as I had brought myself. He made no effort to kiss me again or take lead of things. He just placed his lips lightly on my forehead before pulling back and smiling at me.

I didn't mind this. Just being with him was enough for today.

The day played out slowly. We eventually got up and prepared to sit at the bowling alley, since I still planned on work no matter what the school had to say about it. I needed the money, no matter how unsure I was about my future after June. Any option was surely going to be costly.

Jack drove, seeing as how I still wasn't investing in another crappy car. Who knew what could happen. I was a pessimist when it came to the road ever since the crash with Alex. The chances of that ever happening with Jack were so infinitesimal that they hardly existed. But I would never take my chances on it.

Zack glared at us as we walked through the door. His eyes were underlined by dark circles, indicating he'd gotten no sleep. With Jack at my side, he obviously knew that we hadn't gone to school. As we got closer, I realized that he would have been in the school boat all my himself. Alex and Rian were standing not too far behind him, Kara holding onto Rian's hand.

I snickered when we came face-to-face with all of them. "Did you go to school today, Zacky?" I questioned mockingly. "Kara didn't even come with us this weekend, and she didn't go." She threw me a small smile, finding the humor in the situation. "And you were awaiting my arrival. How gentlemanly," I chuckled, taking a seat near where they were all standing.

Zack was the only one who didn't follow. His eyes were still set in a glare, but I was sure that it was only due to his lack of sleep.

Jack didn't sit with the rest of us either, even after Zack had given in to slump in a chair. Instead, Jack stayed standing behind me and wrapped his arms around me. His chin rested on my shoulder. I shook off the deja vu that came. That was a different life.

Everyone else was talking, the chattering not really reaching me. Warm lips on my shoulder, my neck, my jawline distracted me. In the back of my mind, I knew it was wrong for me to let Jack do this so openly, for me to like it in front of this company. Eventually, one word broke my reverie.

"Prom's this week?" I squeaked, pulling myself from Jack's grasp. I turned in his direction a bit, trying to meet his gaze. "Why didn't you ask me?" I was only slightly hurt that he hadn't brought it up. I had never pictured myself at prom, seeing as how I had never really had anyone to enjoy the time with. Now I wasn't so sure where I would or should be this Friday night.

Jack cleared his throat. I felt as if every pair of eyes were on us, though the other conversation continued.

"I mentioned it on um... Thursday night," he replied nervously.

I smacked his arm. "Is that what you were talking about? I was half asleep!" A chuckle escaped me now.

He seemed to calm down automatically. "I just didn't know if you'd want to go," he admitted. "You never acknowledged it as a desire."

I rolled my eyes dramatically. "Only because I didn't realize it was so soon!" I smiled and leaned up to kiss him.

Apparently, I needed money even more than I thought.

________________________________________________

Maybe it made my eyes too noticeable. Possibly, I'd get too cold with nothing on my shoulders. More than likely, I'd get self-conscious at my legs being as exposed as they were. These were all thoughts that ran through my head as I examined the dress in the mirror. I still didn't feel comfortable that Jack had insisted on getting it for me. But he'd pretty much demanded it after he had seen me in it. Though I had never considered myself pretty, as I stared at myself all made up in this dress, I was sure he was going to go crazy.

I smoothed a few wrinkles out of the ice blue dress. It was short, the hem uneven and barely existing because of all the ruffles of tulle. There were no straps to hold it up, leaving me worried about it falling at some point during the night. The top half was wrapped in small folds around the entire bodice. The color changed just under my chest, a large white strip of satin angling up to cover the entire top back. It was pinned together on my front left side and decorated with fake silver flowers. I smiled as I remembered how Jack had loved it more than I ever could.

My mother called for me, demanding that I come downstairs so she could see me. Hadley's back up came not even two seconds later. I groaned before I reached the door. It didn't last long as I grinned once again because my best friend was going to be there with me, going with Zack as friends.

"Where is Jack?" My mother was already babbling before I was in full sight. "You guys should be leaving soon," she continued her rant.

I held up my phone before shoving it in the too small purse I was being forced to use. "He just called from Alex's driveway. He's on his way," I assured her. "And Zack was behind him out the door. Calm down."

She turned to me then and Hadley lifted her gaze from some magazine in her hands. I wish I wouldn't have seen both their jaws drop. I certainly thought that Hadley looked better in her basic black ruffly number. But I saw it, and the sigh was unstoppable. I ignored all the gushing my mom did as she circled me and my best friend talked endlessly about how the night would be. I jumped when the doorbell rang, running to answer it.

Jack beamed at me when the wooden obstruction was out of our way. He paused, looking me over and I was pleased to watch his eyes widen. "You look amazing," he breathed, and leaned down to connect our lips. I smiled against his lips. His opinion was the only one that mattered and meant anything tonight.

I bid goodbye to my mother and told Hadley I would see her soon. Jack took my hand after I shut the door. My lips turned up at the corners as I looked over at him, memorizing this image of him. We matched perfectly. His white tux would stand out among everyone else. His vest and tie were the exact color of my dress. He'd insisted on coordinating colors, and I didn't want to object.

"Ready?" he questioned with a smirk once we were both in his car.

I took his hand, lacing our fingers. "Of course I'm ready."