Smiling In Everything

Back inside the bar, everything was perfectly normal.

Alex and I sat down like nothing happened, pretending we had run into each other as I was coming back from the restroom. Jamie looked disappointed I had returned; I'm guessing her and Jack had been talking while I was absent.

But I wasn't even thinking about that. I wasn't even jealous. I couldn't get my mind off of what had just happened in the alley. The feel of Alex's lips on mine was bruising my brain.

"I never thought I'd see my boy get married," Mrs. Gaskarth sighs, her hand overlapping Rein's. She smiles over at her soon-to-be mother-in-law. "He never seemed like one to settle down. But you changed that, my dear." Rein thanks her, wiping under her eyes like she was about to cry. A funny feeling buried itself in my stomach.

"Mom, really?" Alex groans, his head shaking.

I couldn't help but stare at the arm wrapped around Rein, her grin blinding. I felt like such a...such a...I didn't even have a word for it! How can he act so normal after we did what we just did? I swallow, looking up at Jack.

"Are you okay?" he whispers, his lips moving against my ear. He left a butterfly kiss there.

My heart sinks to the depths of hell. Jack really loves me. And here I am; I just made out with his best friend. "I'm fine," I squeak out, my top teeth nipping at my bottom lip anxiously.

He looks doubtful but leaves the topic alone, pressing another kiss to the side of my head. I catch Alex staring, his face blank as he watched Jack's lip touch my skin. I avoid his gaze, instead smiling over at my boyfriend, reaching out to tangle our fingers together. Jack grins as well, his arm wrapping around my shoulders, his hand drawing light shapes into the skin of my upper arm.

Alex grimaces, standing up.

"A toast," he smiles, picking up his glass. Everyone at our tables quiets down, and that's when I noticed more people had showed up. Lots of friends of Alex's and Rein's had showed up, including more family members. "Everyone, a toast."

Rein picks up her glass of champagne, looking eagerly up at her soon-to-be. I felt like vomiting. The thought of releasing everything in my stomach was appealing.

"I want to make a toast to my fiancee," Alex speaks, his face beaming down at Rein. My lower abdomen gurgled. "And to everyone who's been helping us plan the wedding. It's only a little less than three months away, but I can't wait for the date to be here." The singer then looks over at me, our eyes connecting. "July 26th, here we come." The breath leaves my body as everyone raises their glasses, clinking, and drinking. I didn't even pick up my cup to begin with, so I just stare straight ahead as everyone chugs alcohol.

"My turn!" Jack says, un-twining our limbs so he could stand. "I just wanted to make a toast to my best friend. I never thought he would tie the knot." Alex smiles blandly at his best man, taking another swig of his drink. "I'm proud that he finally found a girl who can put up with his fucking nonsense. I love him and I hope they have a happy marriage." Everyone drinks again. The taste in my mouth was sour.

It was silent for a few moments before Joyce looks at me. "Sadie?"

I snap out of my daze a force a stretched smile to curl my lips. "Of course," I say. "Sorry. I had spaced out." People laugh as I stand up, my champagne in hand. "A toast to Rein and Alex. Rein and I haven't been friends for terribly long," I admit, "but I'm still honored to be called her Maid of Honor." Rein gives me a large, dazzling grin. "I can't wait to see you two walking down the aisle." Alex and I once again connect eyes. "What a special day it will be." I raise my glass once more before drinking, guzzling the whole flute in one swallow.

"Whoa!" Jack jumps, steadying me as I stumble. "Maybe you shouldn't have chugged." People laugh once again, and I notice the smirk on Jamie's lips. I send her a glare before slumping into my chair, Jack's arm around me once again.

Soon, the wedding crowd bursts into stories of Rein and Alex.

There were funny ones, and sad ones, and just plain stupid ones, but I was barely paying attention. I couldn't get my mind off of what happened ten mere minutes ago.

"...and Alex woke up the next morning in his underwear and a cat was sleeping on him?" Zack laughs, his chuckles burly and loud. "Man. What a fucking night. I remember he had been freaking out because he needed to call Rein. And then he stole Jack's phone when Jack had been in the middle of a conversation with Sadie."

At the mention of my name, I return to Earth. "Oh yeah! I was fucking pissed!" Jack grins, shaking his head. "No one interrupts my special lady time." I punch his arm at that and he just smiles, pecking my lips.

"Speaking of Sadie," Rian suggests, "remember when we were first introduced?"

"Oh!" I groan. "Can we not tell this story again?"

"What, what?" Rein scrunches her eyebrows. "What story?" Alex's arm was around her again, but he kept looking at me. I couldn't help but notice.

"Oh, God," Jack laughs, "you have to here this."

I groan again.

It was two years ago. Jack and I had been dating for a month and a half. He was the sweetest boyfriend I'd ever had. And since we'd been dating for a good amount of time, he decided it was time he introduced me to his friends. Or in other words - his band.

I had been a nervous wreck. What if they hated me? What if they thought I wasn't good enough for Jack? What if they didn't approve of me and Jack broke up with me?

All these scenarios flashed through my head as we walk up the steps.

"Don't worry," Jack grins, his fingers twined with mine as I shook violently, "they'll love you. If I love someone, they tend to love them as well. With a few exceptions." Jack rings the doorbell, looking away from me.

"What if I'm one of those exceptions?!" I panic, my nose wrinkling.

Jack laughs, shaking his head. "You won't be. I promise."

The door eventually opens, revealing a shorter man with a buzzed head. He had a very nice smile. "Sadie," Jack smiles, "this is our drummer, Rian. Rian, this is my lady, Sadie." I shake hands with him, and he opens the door wider so we could come in. In the living room, I could hear the sounds of Call of Duty echoing through the house.

"Fuck!" someone screams, the sound of a controller hitting the ground meeting my ears. "Zack, go fuck yourself. I swear you cheat every time we play this."

"Oh yeah, I cheat," the other guy scoffs. "You're the one who gets codes off the internet."

"Sorry that I fucking hate losing - "

"Guys!" Jack calls, pulling me into the living room. Two guys were sitting on the couch, their backs to me. "I have company. Could you control your fucking swearing?" I giggle at his comment, shaking my head.

The two boys standing, turning to look at me. One was big and had muscles the size of my head, his hair curly and blonde. He had a nose ring. The other one...

I was so stunned that I remember backing up, my foot getting caught on the rug.

Before I knew it I was tumbling backwards, my body ramming into the trashcan, the bin knocking over and the dirty contents spilling all over. A half-full can of beer flies out, dumping all over my shirt, staining the cloth. Once the commotion had died down, the trash stopping it's rolling, everyone looks down at me, laughing hysterically.

"Well, Jack," the boy I had gasped at chuckles, "you sure know how to pick clumsy girls."

Jack was laughing, wiping at his eyes. "She's clumsy, but I like her."

My face was beating red, almost the color of a cherry. Jack helps me up, assessing the beer stain on my shirt. He sighs. "Only you would fall into a trash can when I introduce you to my friends." He shakes his head exasperatedly.

"Shutup," I growl. "I could've robbed you all and ran to Canada."

The other three boys laugh as my boyfriend rolls his eyes. "Whatever. Alex will get a clean shirt from upstairs and we'll clean this up." He pushes me toward the boy who had surprised me with his looks, my heart pounding faster and faster in my chest. The guy, Alex, takes a hold of my arm and guides me to the stairs.

"Be careful," he says as we ascend them. "Stairs are real nasty tricksters. They move and you'll trip at a moment's notice."

"Haha," I stick my tongue out, shoving his arm. "Just get me a shirt."

This Alex laughed, pushing open a door. I assumed it was his room, the place littered with clothes. He opens a drawer, rummaging through it before picking a black piece of cloth. "Here," he says, throwing the shirt at me. "Where that. I'll wash the beer shirt."

I nod, pulling the dirty shirt over my head. "Whoa!" Alex exclaims. "Do you get naked in front of your boyfriend's friends all the time?" His smirk was beautiful. It was the first time I'd seen it.

"Just the ones who's beer is all over me," I shoot back, tugging the shirt on. It was a Ramones tee shirt.

Alex grins, walking out of his room. "Touché."

That was the first time I'd really felt a pull to Alex. The first time I'd seen him, when I'd fallen over, I had been so shocked at his facial features and his...everything. I'd never seen someone so gorgeous before in my life. Well, except for Jack. But sometimes, I think my attraction toward Alex will always be greater than my attraction to Jack.

"You really fell into a trash can when you first met them?" Rein was laughing, holding her stomach. Everyone else was laughing too, the sound so loud that it pierced my ears.

I groan, my face reddening. "Yes. Let's stop talking about it."

"But's funny, babe!" Jack chuckles, pulling me closer to him. "It's good to laugh at yourself."

"Oh!" I scoff, looking around at the four boys I had embarrassed myself in front of two years ago. "Do you want me to tell some humiliating stories about you guys?!" All of them shut up, their eyes widening.

Alex was just smirking, his eyes assessing me. "Touché, Sadie. Touché."