It Was Only a Kiss

Jimmy was about to stand up when Sophie grabbed his shirt and tugged him back down. "If I'm going to talk to anyone, you're stayin'." She said defiantly.

Jimmy sighed. "Sophia Marie, now is really not the time." He said, grinning despite trying to be the responsible one.

She shook her head. "Jimmy. You're my best friend. You're staying."

He chuckled and looked over at Brian, who was trying not to smile. "Fine, but only because you're upset and it's your birthday." He said.

Sophie shook her head. "Birthday my ass." She scoffed.

"We'll have fun later on; we'll have to have some junk food fest with funny movies." Jimmy told her with a smile. "It won't make up for it but -"

"Jimmy, honestly, that's all I need for my birthday anyways. All the other stuff is fun but I just want to hang out with you guys without all the tension." She sighed.

Jimmy sighed and placed an arm around her shoulders. "Next year that's what we'll do. Promise. No bullshit parties unless you want one." He assured her.

She smiled. "Thanks Jimbo."

He beamed and nodded. "No probs, baby cakes."

She smiled at, apparently, her new nickname. "So what do we have to talk to Brian about?" She asked, turning so she could look at him.

"It's more you two that need to talk; I'm being forced to stay here." Jimmy replied with a small laugh. "But hey, if you need me to stay so you can talk I will. Just don't expect me to butt in too much."

Sophie nodded and kept her gaze on Brian, who sat down across from Sophie and Jimmy on the loveseat. "Shitty way to tell you this but I guess it works." He sighed. Sophie raised an eyebrow. "Despite my avid protests, the guys seem to think that I like, love you. More than my best friend. Honestly, I don't know if it's true. But yeah, that could explain why I got so pissed off at Zacky since he was the one who brought up the fact that we like, loved each other." He said.

Sophie was a little taken aback by what he had said. There was no way, not Brian. "That's... interesting?" She said, not knowing what else to say.

"Yeah," he said awkwardly. "I mean, I guess it's possible. We've spent our entire lives together."

She bit her lip and nodded. "Yeah..."

It was silent for a moment. "Awkward silence!" Jimmy exclaimed with a small grin. Count on him to break that silence.

"Sophie, I don't know if I do. But if you - "

"Brian, you shouldn't have to think about it. If you're in love with someone, you just are." She stated.

He nodded. "I know, I know. But there's always the possibility that I've repressed the feeling for so long that I need to re-think our whole relationship."

Sophie couldn't help but chuckle as she shook her head. "Brian, you're not in love with me; I'm not in love with you. We're best friends. We do love each other, just not in that way. Plus, knowing us, if we tried to date we'd fuck up and never want to speak to each other. I'm one hundred percent not risking that, even if I was in love with you." She said bluntly. Her words may have seemed harsh, but at that point Sophie just wanted to say it as it was.

Brian shook his head. "That's where you're wrong. You could fuck the whole band and I still wouldn't be able to let you go. That's kind of why I'm thinking that I do love you. No matter what you do I can't live without you. Just like I can't live without anybody in the band."

Sophie nodded. "Exactly; like the band. Now unless you're in love with all of them too, that's classifying me as best friend."

Brian couldn't help but laugh at that. "Yeah, I guess you're right. The guys are just really persuasive."

Sophie smiled and nodded. "And we all know I'm in love with Jimbo. Like everyone else." Sophie laughed, poking Jimmy's cheek.

He beamed. "Everyone loves me!"

Brian and Sophie laughed. "Yes Jimmy, everyone loves you." Brian replied.

"So Bri, you still mad at me?" She asked innocently.

He shook his head, stood up and sat back down next to Jimmy then ruffled her hair. "Of course not. I can't stay mad at you, and especially on your birthday. We'll make up for everything."

Sophie smiled. "Thanks Bri. Tell Zacky not to hate me too? He was pissed the fuck off that I did it in front of everyone."

Brian grinned. "He was just scared because he thought I was going to kill him, but to his credit I did think I was going to..." He said with a mischievous grin.

Sophie smacked his arm. "No killing your rhythm guitarist."

He chuckled. "Fine, mom, Jesus Christ..."

Sophie and Jimmy laughed. "Speaking of moms, has yours even called to say happy birthday?" Jimmy inquired.

Sophie shook her head. "Of course not. Even James didn't call this year," she answered, feeling her spirits sink again. James was her older brother. And her mom was, well, her mom.

Jimmy sighed. "Technically, I'm James, so I win." He retorted.

Sophie smiled. "Yes, you are James. But James is also my brother, James Currier, not Sullivan."

Jimmy tightened his arm around her. "Don't worry about anyone else. Now you've got me and Brian for the rest of the day to do whatever the fuck you want to do. Now speak, almighty God!"

Sophie beamed. "I wanna watch The Hangover."