Private Universe

Two days later when we hit Des Moines, Jack was so moody and I wasn't in the mood for his snide comments. I was trying to stay calm but it was difficult. He would walk into the room and say something mean and I told myself to breath so many times. He was worse than before and I really just wanted to slap him across the face. When he came back to throw something away he was muttering under his breath and I lost it.

I slammed my book down and Alex jumped a little. I grabbed Jack by the arm and dragged him off the bus and pushed him against the side of it. He looked a little scared and I was glad. He was going to talk to me or I was going to make sure he hand my finger prints on his face.

"Talk." I said.

"About what?"

"Whatever's bothering you. I'm sick of the rude comments and the muttering under your breath." I crossed my arms.

"Nothing's bothering me." He waved me off and started to walk away but not before I grabbed his arm and slammed him back to the bus.

"Something is. You've been angry since Canada. So talk."

He stared at me for a minute and then looked to the side. "It's just..."

I waited for him to continue but when he didn't all I said was, "What?"

"I don't know."

"You do. Talk to me, Jack." I softened my voice a little and he looked at me.

"You suck." He threw up his arms and sighed loudly. "I'm jealous. Of you and Alex."

I could feel the shock overtake my face. "What? Of me and Alex? Why?"

"Because. You two are so fucking adorable. And everyone knows it. And I knew it was only a matter of time before you two actually got together. I just wanted it to hold out a bit longer because I wanted to find someone I could be the same way with." His voice broke a little at the end and all I wanted to do was hug him.

"Aww." I grinned as he looked up at me.

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"No, Jack. It's sweet." I gave him a hug I felt him relax a little. "Why didn't you talk to anyone about this?" I asked pulling away.

"Because. They would all want to help and it would be...embarrassing. I don't know."

"Aww." I smiled at him as an idea came to mind. "What if I helped you?"

"What?"

"What if I played match maker? I could help you find a girl. I could be the best wing man ever! Better than Alex." I grinned at him.

"Wing man?"

"Well, more like wing woman. But same thing. Think about it! You would never be competing against me. I'm a girl."

He thought for a minute. "That's true. But how will I know they don't just like me for my money and fame?"

"We find someone that doesn't know who you are."

He snorted. "Like that's going to happen."

"I didn't know who you guys were when I met you." I pointed out.

"Really? I find that a little hard to believe." He grinned at me and I hit his arm.

"Please, Jack! Let me be your wing woman."

He started to think about it but I knew he was going to say yes as one of the corners of his mouth pulled up into a smile. "Okay. But if we go out, Alex can't come. Only cause they will all want him."

It was my turn to think about that. No Alex? What would he say? "Fine. But I have to tell Alex."

He threw his hands up again but agreed. We walked back to the entrance of the bus and he was back to his normal self trying to tell me what girls he liked. As we entered I saw a flash as three idiots ran back to what they were doing. They all knew what we had just talked about. I couldn't help but smile a little as I saw Alex look up from his video game controller.

Jack and I joined him and we all started a heated game of Mario Kart. I was kicking their asses at the start but Jack was the one getting across the finish line first. He jumped in the air and started to do what I could only describe as a happy dance. The rest of the band and I couldn't help but laugh at his stupidity. It was interrupted by their manager coming in to tell them that we could spend the night in a hotel. We were all so excited to finally get a bed that we nearly pushed over the manager in our attempt to figure out the sleeping arrangements with the other bands. We Are The In Crowd and The Cab were already discussing it and when Taylor saw me she sprinted to my side and grabbed my arm.

"You're sharing a room with me. I need another girl." She said.

"No way. I was going to be sharing a room with her." Alex said pushing out his bottom lip.

"Too bad. We're the only girls. You get her on the bus all the time. I get her in the hotel."

"Whoa. Can I join?" Jack grinned at us and I slapped his arm.

"Gross! And no you can't. We're going to be having some serious girl talk, right?" I asked her.

"Duh!"

"No pillow fights in your underwear?" Jack asked almost disappointed.

I looked at Taylor and grinned. "Hmm. What do you think?"

"It sounds like fun." She grinned back and we both burst out laughing at the sight of Jack's face. He looked horrified that we would do something like that and not invite him.

After Taylor and I walked away laughing at how stupid they were we got our room and took our suitcases up. I was excited for a bed to myself. A big bed. I was missing my bed from home so much that it made me want to cry a little. As we unlocked our room I ran in and jumped on one of the big beds. It was so comfortable I could have fallen asleep right there. I heard Taylor giggle so I looked up just enough to see her looking at me.

"Not used to not having a bed?" She asked claiming the other bed.

"Not at all. I miss my bed."

"I know. At least you get a bunk on the bus. We're in a van."

"Oh wow. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry. I'm used to it. But getting a bed any chance I get is a magical thing." She grinned at me and I rolled on my back.

"How do you do this? No bed? How did I do it?"

"You had Alex." She his her face behind her hands and I heard her giggle again.

"That wasn't comfortable. Don't get me wrong, I loved waking up next to him but I was uncomfortable."

"Is he boney?" She giggled again as the dirty thought crept into her head.

I rolled my eyes and laughed at her. "What does that even mean?"

"Like, you know when people say someone has a boney butt? Is Alex boney?" She threw herself onto her pillows to hide her face and it just made me laugh at her even more.

"No. He was...soft?" We both burst into tears laughing so hard.

"So you don't turn him on?" She grinned and wiped away another tear.

"I don't know! I suppose I do, I mean we're dating right?"

"Sure. But if he's not...boney in the morning I'm guessing he isn't having dirty sex dreams about you." We both started laughing again and I felt like I was going to die. I loved her. She was so funny.

"Oh my god. Stop talking about Alex like that. I don't even want to think about that right now. It took us weeks to even kiss."

"So? Sex is right around the corner." She grinned and I threw one of my pillows at her. "What? It's true!"

"Shut up!" I said laughing.

"Fine. But I'm going to shower and then probably sleep. I'm exhausted."

"Okay."

I heard the shower run and I turned on the TV. I flipped through the channels finding nothing of interest. I sighed and settled on The Price Is Right. I pulled out the book I was working on and started to read that. Tay came out about a half hour later with her hair dripping wet. She crawled into bed and I glanced at the clock. It was nearing midnight and we were going to have to get up in a few hours and get going. I decided to shower because I wasn't sure when I was going to be able to get another one.

After the shower I slipped into a tank top and a pair of red short shorts. I brushed my hair back and was about to settle into my own bed when I heard a soft knock at the door. I opened it to find Alex standing there grinning with a sweatshirt in his hand.

"Want to go on an adventure?" He whispered as he glanced at Taylor sleeping.

"We have to be up in a few hours."

"Don't care. Come on." He smiled and held out a hand.

"One second."

I ran back in the room and slipped on my flip flops and grabbed my key to the room. I met Alex outside the door and he handed me the extra sweatshirt. I put it on and stuck the key in the pocket. He laced his fingers with mine and led me down the hall showing me the universal key he had stolen from the front desk. I saw him grin mischievously and I couldn't help but do the same.