Private Universe

"Alex, where are we going?" I asked him as he pulled me through the quiet halls of the hotel. We hadn't seen a single soul and when we passed the lobby and the check-in guy looked stressed. Alex and I hurried away trying to hold back the giggles because Alex had stolen the keys. And the guy was probably going to be in deep shit if he didn't find them.

"Places. An adventure." He said grinning at me.

"I know it's an adventure. I would just like to know where this adventure is going to be."

"Just wait." He smiled and squeezed my hand.

I sighed and let the subject go. I had no idea where we were going. It was a huge hotel and I was pretty sure Alex was taking the long way there. Just to confuse me. All of a sudden he stopped and put himself in my path. Because I wasn't paying attention I ran right into him and he steadied me as he took my waist between his hands.

"Careful." He smiled. "Close your eyes."

"What?"

"Trust me." There was a strong part of me that didn't trust him one bit. But then I told myself that it was only Alex. How bad could he be?

He took my hand and led me the rest of the way with my eyes closed. It wasn't long until he led be through a door and it was suddenly cooler. It felt good compared to all the heat we had been dealing with all tour. He led me a little further and then stopped. He leaned into my ear and whispered.

"Open your eyes."

I did and I was surprised to find that we were at the pool. The hotel pool. It was huge and dimly lit. It looked inviting and I wanted nothing more than to get into that pool and get cooled off. I looked at Alex who was watching for my reaction. I grinned at him and he did the same squeezing my hand.

"Why are we at the pool? We didn't bring swimsuits." I said.

"Doesn't matter." He grinned and let go of my hand.

He then proceeded to take off his shirt and it took almost everything in my power not to jump his bones. I was too busy staring at his chest that I didn't even notice when he had stripped down and was wearing absolutely nothing. He turned to me and grinned before diving into the pool, naked. When he came back up his hair was all over the place but it was an attractive look.

"Come on." He said smiling.

"I don't have a swimsuit."

"Neither do I." He grinned and swam to the wall where I was standing.

"Alex-" I shifted uncomfortably. I'd never been all that comfortable in my own skin.

"Trust me?" He said holding out his hand. I looked at the doors. There was a small part of me that wanted someone to come in. "I'll pull you in with your clothes." I looked down and he was grinning again.

"This is your hoodie." I reminded him.

He waved it off. "Not to worried about it."

"You planned this." I said with sudden realization.

He grinned. "Only a little. I wasn't so sure you were going to answer the door."

"Alex!"

"What? I wanted to spend alone time with you."

"We are always spending time together."

"Yeah, but other people are always around. I wanted time with just you." He smiled and held out his hand again. "Now, get in the pool or I will get out and tackle you in."

I bit my lip contemplating my current situation. "Turn around." I said to him.

"What?"

"Turn around."

"But, I didn't make you! You saw everything."

"Alex, you have nothing to be self-conscious about."

"Neither do you." He shot back and grinned.

I felt a little heat rise to my cheeks. "Just, turn around."

"Fine." He swam off to the other end and I hurriedly stripped my clothes off and jumped in.

It felt really odd to be naked in a pool. But it was oddly refreshing. I felt like I was breaking the rules and I couldn't help but feel excited about it. I swam to Alex because he was still pouting about the fact that I made turn around. I wrapped my arms around his neck from behind and kissed his cheek. He turned around and wrapped one of his arms around my waist pulling me close to him. The other found the side of my face and kissed me. I could feel him smile and it made me smile. When he stopped to look at me I wrapped both my arms around his neck and grinned at him.

"Better?" I asked.

"Mmm. Definitely." He grinned back and kissed me lightly.

"I feel like such a rebel. Breaking all the rules." I giggled and felt him laugh. "So, is this what you do for all the girls you like?" I asked jokingly.

"As if. They are usually the ones taking charge." I felt my face drop a little. "No! I like that you don't. I enjoy taking this slow. You make me nervous. Much more nervous than any other girl I've been with."

"How do I make you nervous? You're Alex Gaskarth."

He chuckled. "Just because I'm a huge rock star doesn't mean I don't get nervous."

I raised my eyebrow. "Really? What could you ever be nervous about?"

"Big shows mostly. I never believe that the band is ever that good. So playing a huge venue is scary. And you. I don't know what it is, but you make me nervous. I feel like you deserve a lot better than me."

I looked at his eyes. How could he not be enough for me? Everything felt right with him. I placed my hands on either side of his face and he looked at me. I studied his face. The brown eyes that made me melt. The scruffy unshaven mouth and jaw. His surprisingly soft lips and how his hair was all over the place. No matter where he was or what he was doing.

"Alex, you're enough. I promise." I kissed him and both his arms wrapped around my body and pulled me even closer. If that was possible. I wrapped my legs around his waist and felt him smile. I couldn't help but smile and pull away.

**

I woke to the sound of people talking. I didn't open my eyes because I could feel the sun on my face and I didn't want to even see the brightness. I focused on the voices and realized it was Taylor and Alex talking. From the distance I was guessing they were sitting on the chairs in the room, probably drinking coffee.

"You guys had sex in the pool?" She nearly shrieked. I heard a small slap and guessed that he had covered her mouth in an attempt to make her be quiet.

"Shh! Jesus, Tay. You're going to wake her up."

"Sorry." She whispered. "But the pool? Seriously? Where other people swim and probably pee in?"

"Gross. Thanks, Taylor. And no we didn't exactly have sex. We just went...skinny dipping."

"Oh cause that's better." They were both silent for a bit and I was just about to force myself out of bed when the conversation picked up again.

"Why a pool?" She asked.

"I don't know. Because you were in the room and Rian was in mine?"

"You were planning on having sex in a hotel?" He voice rose a little in pitch.

"Better than the bunks on the bus." He said.

"You wanted to have sex on the bus?"

"Sweet Jesus, Taylor. Calm the fuck down."

"Well, it sounds like you've thought all this out." She said.

"Not really."

"Did you just want to have sex with her?" She asked a little nervous.

"Of course not! I..uh.." He trailed off.

"You what?" She asked.

"I think...I..um..you can't say anything!" He said suddenly.

"You haven't told me anything good."

"Right. Well, if I tell you. Swear you won't tell her. I need to get it perfect."

"Fine. I pinky promise not to tell her. Or any other soul in the world. This better be a fucking good secret, Gaskarth."

"I think I love her." It barely came out in a whisper but it was enough. If I hadn't been pretending to be sleeping and not listening to the conversation I would have jumped into his arms in that moment and kissed him.

"Oh. My. God." She said. Then out of no where she squealed and I heard the small slap and her quiet again.

"Shh! Jesus, Taylor. Taking a fucking chill pill." He said.

"I'm sorry!" She whisper-screamed. "It's just so cute!"

I could only assume he rolled his eyes and smiled at her. "I wanted to tell her last night. But it didn't feel right. And I feel like it's too early. We're barely dating."

"So? Tour is different than real dating. You get to know how people really act quickly. You get to know them faster too. You have nothing to do but talk and find things out. So I don't think it's too early. And there's never a perfect time to tell anyone. If you wait for the perfect moment you could lose it forever. Do it soon."

He heard him give a small chuckle. "Has anyone ever told you, you're a bit of a genius?"

"No. But I know I'm part genius. No one else understands." I could tell she was grinning.

"I see."

"You should probably wake her up. I think we need to get going soon. I'm going to go find the rest of my band and figure out what's going on." I heard her get up and set her cup in the sink somewhere. The door opened and then closed and I could suddenly feel a body next to me and arms wrapping around me pulling me closer.

"Zooey, wake up." He said kissing my forehead. I didn't do anything for a minute so that my fake sleeping could actually look real. "Come on. Wake up. We have to get going." He said it sweetly and I couldn't help but open my eyes slightly. He was smiling and I curled myself into his arms.